She stopped exhausted, but none of the bystanders moved.  They listened breathlessly, and waited with feverish emotion for her to resume.

Mademoiselle d’Arlange had not the strength to remain standing; she had fallen upon her knees, and was pressing her handkerchief to her mouth to keep back her sobs.  Was not this woman Albert’s mother?

The worthy nun was alone unmoved; she had seen, she said to herself, many such deliriums before.  She understood absolutely nothing of what was passing.

“These people are very foolish,” she muttered, “to pay so much attention to the ramblings of a person out of her mind.”

She thought she had more sense than the others, so, approaching the bed, she began to cover up the sick woman.

“Come, madame,” said she, “cover yourself, or you will catch cold.”

“Sister!” remonstrated the doctor and priest at the same moment.

“For God’s sake!” exclaimed the soldier, “let her speak.”

“Who,” continued the sick woman, unconscious of all that was passing about her, “who told you I was deceiving you?  Oh, the wretches!  They set spies upon me; they discovered that an officer came frequently to see me.  But that officer was my brother, my dear Louis!  When he was eighteen years old, and being unable to obtain work, he enlisted, saying to my mother, that there would then be one mouth the less in the family.  He was a good soldier, and his officers always liked him.  He worked whilst with his regiment; he taught himself, and he quickly rose in rank.  He was promoted a lieutenant, then captain, and finally became major.  Louis always loved me; had he remained in Paris I should not have fallen.  But our mother died, and I was left all alone in this great city.  He was a non-commissioned officer when he first knew that I had a lover; and he was so enraged that I feared he would never forgive me.  But he did forgive me, saying that my constancy in my error was its only excuse.  Ah, my friend, he was more jealous of your honour than you yourself!  He came to see me in secret, because I placed him in the unhappy position of blushing for his sister.  I had condemned myself never to speak of him, never to mention his name.  Could a brave soldier confess that his sister was the mistress of a count?  That it might not be known, I took the utmost precautions, but alas! only to make you doubt me.  When Louis knew what was said, he wished in his blind rage to challenge you; and then I was obliged to make him think that he had no right to defend me.  What misery!  Ah, I have paid dearly for my years of stolen happiness!  But you are here, and all is forgotten.  For you do believe me, do you not, Guy?  I will write to Louis; he will come, he will tell you that I do not lie, and you cannot doubt his, a soldier’s word.”

“Yes, on my honour,” said the old soldier, “what my sister says is the truth.”

The dying woman did not hear him; she continued in a voice panting from weariness:  “How your presence revives me.  I feel that I am growing stronger.  I have nearly been very ill.  I am afraid I am not very pretty today; but never mind, kiss me!”