er for a man with a hole in his side as big as
your hat, that begins to bleed if he moves a hair's-breadth. I knew you
would come," he continued; "I knew I should wake up and find you here;
so I'm not surprised. But last night I was very impatient. I didn't see
how I could keep still until you came. It was a matter of keeping still,
just like this; as still as a mummy in his case. You talk about trying;
I tried that! Well, here I am yet--these twenty hours. It seems like
twenty days." Bellegarde talked slowly and feebly, but distinctly
enough. It was visible, however, that he was in extreme pain, and at
last he closed his eyes. Newman begged him to remain silent and spare
himself; the doctor had left urgent orders. "Oh," said Valentin, "let us
eat and drink, for to-morrow--to-morrow"--and he paused again. "No, not
to-morrow, perhaps, but today. I can't eat and drink, but I can talk.
What's to be gained, at this pass, by renun--renunciation? I mustn't use
such big words. I was always a chatterer; Lord, how I have talked in my
day!"

"That's a reason for keeping quiet now," said Newman. "We know how well
you talk, you know."

But Valentin, without heeding him, went on in the same weak, dying
drawl. "I wanted to see you because you have seen my sister. Does she
know--will she come?"

Newman was embarrassed. "Yes, by this time she must know."

"Didn't you tell her?" Valentin asked. And then, in a moment, "Didn't
you bring me any message from her?" His eyes rested upon Newman's with a
certain soft keenness.

"I didn't see her after I got your telegram," said Newman. "I wrote to
her."

"And she sent you no answer?"

Newman was obliged to reply that Madame de Cintre had left Paris. "She
went yesterday to Fleurieres."

"Yesterday--to Fleurieres? Why did she go to Fleurieres? What day is
this? What day was yesterday? Ah, then I shan't see her," said Valentin,
sadly. "Fleurieres is too far!" And then he closed his eyes again.
Newman sat silent, summoning pious invention to his aid, but he was
relieved at finding that Valentin was apparently too weak to reason
or to be curious. Bellegarde, however, presently went on. "And my
mother--and my brother--will they come? Are they at Fleurieres?"

"They were in Paris, but I didn't see them, either," Newman answered.
"If they received your telegram in time, they will have started this
morning. Otherwise they will be obliged to wait for the night-express,
and they will arrive at