nville placed their carriage entirely at the
disposal of the marquis, assuring him courteously that they would like
to continue their way on foot.

"Who is that lady?" asked the marquis, signing toward the unknown woman.

"I believe she comes from Moulins," replied Monsieur de Granville. "She
is the Comtesse de Vandieres, and they say she is mad; but as she
has only been here two months I will not vouch for the truth of these
hearsays."

Monsieur d'Albon thanked his friends, and placing the colonel in the
carriage, started with him for Cassan.

"It is she!" cried Philippe, recovering his senses.

"Who is she?" asked d'Albon.

"Stephanie. Ah, dead and living, living and mad! I fancied I was dying."

The prudent marquis, appreciating the gravity of the crisis through
which his friend was passing, was careful not to question or excite him;
he was only anxious to reach the chateau, for the change which had taken
place in the colonel's features, in fact in his whole person, made him
fear for his friend's reason. As soon, therefore, as the carriage had
reached the main street of Ile-Adam, he dispatched the footman to the
village doctor, so that the colonel was no sooner fairly in his bed at
the chateau than the physician was beside him.

"If monsieur had not been many hours without food the shock would have
killed him," said the doctor.

After naming the first precautions, the doctor left the room, to
prepare, himself, a calming potion. The next day, Monsieur de Sucy was
better, but the doctor still watched him carefully.

"I will admit to you, monsieur le marquis," he said, "that I have feared
some affection of the brain. Monsieur de Sucy has received a violent
shock; his passions are strong; but, in him, the first blow decides all.
To-morrow he may be entirely out of danger."

The doctor was not mistaken; and the following day he allowed the
marquis to see his friend.

"My dear d'Albon," said Philippe, pressing his hand, "I am going to ask
a kindness of you. Go to the Bons-Hommes, and find out all you can of
the lady we saw there; and return to me as quickly as you can; I shall
count the minutes."

Monsieur d'Albon mounted his horse at once, and galloped to the old
abbey. When he arrived there, he saw before the iron gate a tall, spare
man with a very kindly face, who answered in the affirmative when asked
if he lived there. Monsieur d'Albon then informed him of the reasons for
his visit.

"What! monsieur,