On the 15th of January, 1777, Edouard was placed in a school in the rue de l’Homme Arme.  His mother never saw him again.  She went out once more to place her husband’s power of attorney with a lawyer in the rue de Paon.  On her return she felt so weak and broken-down that she was obliged to go to bed and remain there for several days.  On January 29th the unfortunate lady had risen, and was sitting near the window which overlooked the deserted rue des Menetriers, where clouds of snow were drifting before the wind.  Who can guess the sad thoughts which may have possessed her?—­all around dark, cold, and silent, tending to produce painful depression and involuntary dread.  To escape the gloomy ideas which besieged her, her mind went back to the smiling times of her youth and marriage.  She recalled the time when, alone at Buisson during her husband’s enforced absences, she wandered with her child in the cool and shaded walks of the park, and sat out in the evening, inhaling the scent of the flowers, and listening to the murmur of the water, or the sound of the whispering breeze in the leaves.  Then, coming back from these sweet recollections to reality, she shed tears, and called on her husband and son.  So deep was her reverie that she did not hear the room door open, did not perceive that darkness had come on.  The light of a candle, dispersing the shadows, made her start; she turned her head, and saw Derues coming towards her.  He smiled, and she made an effort to keep back the tears which were shining in her eyes, and to appear calm.

“I am afraid I disturb you,” he said.  “I came to ask a favour, madame.”

“What is it, Monsieur Derues?” she inquired.

“Will you allow me to have a large chest brought into this room?  I ought to pack some valuable things in it which are in my charge, and are now in this cupboard.  I am afraid it will be in your way.”

“Is it not your own house, and is it not rather I who am in the way and a cause of trouble?  Pray have it brought in, and try to forget that I am here.  You are most kind to me, but I wish I could spare you all this trouble and that I were fit to go back to Buisson.  I had a letter from my husband yesterday——­”

“We will talk about that presently, if you wish it,” said Derues.  “I will go and fetch the servant to help me to carry in this chest.  I have put it off hitherto, but it really must be sent in three days.”

He went away, and returned in a few minutes.  The chest was carried in, and placed before the cupboard at the foot of the bed.  Alas! the poor lady little thought it was her own coffin which stood before her!

The maid withdrew, and Derues assisted Madame de Lamotte to a seat near the fire, which he revived with more fuel.  He sat down opposite to her, and by the feeble light of the candle placed on a small table between them could contemplate at leisure the ravages wrought by poison on her wasted features.