pecially a first
service. So I bowed in silence, put the letter in my pocket, and gave
her all sorts of directions for the night. Then she held out her hand,
which I respectfully kissed, and at that moment it seemed as if no ill
feeling had ever existed between us. 'Goodnight, dear Doctor'--those
were the last words I ever heard her utter._

"_In the hall below I met the count, who asked how I had found her. I
told him, and also said I was going to the city--but did not mention
the letter_ (_although my motto has always been 'frankness and
honesty,' there are cases where discretion becomes a duty._) _The count
positively forbade me to ride to the city. If the countess asked about
the matter in the morning, he would be responsible for my disobedience.
Then he went to her himself remained in her apartments about half an
hour and returned in a mood I had scarcely ever remarked in him
before--gentle and kind, as if he felt all would now be well. Dear me
it was the first time for years, that he had been allowed to sit by her
bedside for half an hour._

"_Then night closed in. No one in the castle noticed anything unusual,
the supper was a little more quiet, and there was no card playing
afterwards, which greatly vexed the chevalier, who does not know how to
amuse himself without it. At eleven the count again sent to inquire
about his wife's health; the maid, who was to spend the night on the
sofa in the adjoining room, replied that the countess seemed to be
asleep, and she could not get in. Her Excellency had locked the door._

"_So all went to bed. What was to be feared? The symptoms were not
alarming; rest, sleep, and a Utile bleeding could only be beneficial._

"_But I was roused from, my sleep at five o'clock in the morning by the
maid, who was standing beside my bed. I must come up at once, she had
been aroused by a strange moan, had knocked at the countess' door and
called her and at last with the help of a servant, burst the lock;
there lay the poor countess weltering in her blood, with the bandage
stripped from her arm, unconscious but still alive._

"_Dear friend, you may suppose that our trade hardens us, but such a
sight!--the count like a madman--the grief of the whole household--and
I stood by, whose duty it was to help, and saw that all was useless!_

"_Had I not been convinced that the bandage--but why should I speak of
that--the change in her feelings for the previous few days, instantly
removed the sup