ess in his corner of the railway-carriage, with his eyes
closed, and the most observant of his fellow-travelers might have envied
him his apparent slumber. Toward morning slumber really came, as an
effect of mental rather than of physical fatigue. He slept for a couple
of hours, and at last, waking, found his eyes resting upon one of the
snow-powdered peaks of the Jura, behind which the sky was just reddening
with the dawn. But he saw neither the cold mountain nor the warm sky;
his consciousness began to throb again, on the very instant, with a
sense of his wrong. He got out of the train half an hour before it
reached Geneva, in the cold morning twilight, at the station indicated
in Valentin's telegram. A drowsy station-master was on the platform
with a lantern, and the hood of his overcoat over his head, and near him
stood a gentleman who advanced to meet Newman. This personage was a man
of forty, with a tall lean figure, a sallow face, a dark eye, a neat
mustache, and a pair of fresh gloves. He took off his hat, looking very
grave, and pronounced Newman's name. Our hero assented and said, "You
are M. de Bellegarde's friend?"

"I unite with you in claiming that sad honor," said the gentleman.
"I had placed myself at M. de Bellegarde's service in this melancholy
affair, together with M. de Grosjoyaux, who is now at his bedside. M. de
Grosjoyaux, I believe, has had the honor of meeting you in Paris, but as
he is a better nurse than I he remained with our poor friend. Bellegarde
has been eagerly expecting you."

"And how is Bellegarde?" said Newman. "He was badly hit?"

"The doctor has condemned him; we brought a surgeon with us. But he
will die in the best sentiments. I sent last evening for the cure of the
nearest French village, who spent an hour with him. The cure was quite
satisfied."

"Heaven forgive us!" groaned Newman. "I would rather the doctor were
satisfied! And can he see me--shall he know me?"

"When I left him, half an hour ago, he had fallen asleep after a
feverish, wakeful night. But we shall see." And Newman's companion
proceeded to lead the way out of the station to the village, explaining
as he went that the little party was lodged in the humblest of Swiss
inns, where, however, they had succeeded in making M. de Bellegarde much
more comfortable than could at first have been expected. "We are old
companions in arms," said Valentin's second; "it is not the first time
that one of us has helped the oth