ld we get a hundred _louis_ to bring doctors from Paris?
There is still time," cried the baroness.

"A hundred _louis!_" cried Zephirine; "will that save him?"

Without waiting for her sister-in-law's reply, the old maid ran her
hands through the placket-holes of her gown, unfastened the petticoat
beneath it, which gave forth a heavy sound as it dropped to the floor.
She knew so well the places where she had sewn in her _louis_ that she
now ripped them out with the rapidity of magic. The gold pieces rang
as they fell, one by one, into her lap. The old Pen-Hoel gazed at this
performance in stupefied amazement.

"But they'll see you!" she whispered in her friend's ear.

"Thirty-seven," answered Zephirine, continuing to count.

"Every one will know how much you have."

"Forty-two."

"Double _louis!_ all new! How did you get them, you who can't see
clearly?"

"I felt them. Here's one hundred and four _louis_," cried Zephirine. "Is
that enough?"

"What is all this?" asked the Chevalier du Halga, who now came in,
unable to understand the attitude of his old blind friend, holding out
her petticoat which was full of gold coins.

Mademoiselle de Pen-Hoel explained.

"I knew it," said the chevalier, "and I have come to bring a hundred and
forty _louis_ which I have been holding at Calyste's disposition, as he
knows very well."

The chevalier drew the _rouleaux_ from his pocket and showed them.
Mariotte, seeing such wealth, sent Gasselin to lock the doors.

"Gold will not give him health," said the baroness, weeping.

"But it can take him to Paris, where he can find her. Come, Calyste."

"Yes," cried Calyste, springing up, "I will go."

"He will live," said the baron, in a shaking voice; "and I can die--send
for the rector!"

The words cast terror on all present. Calyste, seeing the mortal
paleness on his father's face, for the old man was exhausted by the
cruel emotions of the scene, came to his father's side. The rector,
after hearing the report of the doctors, had gone to Mademoiselle
des Touches, intending to bring her back with him to Calyste, for in
proportion as the worthy man had formerly detested her, he now admired
her, and protected her as a shepherd protects the most precious of his
flock.

When the news of the baron's approaching end became known in Guerande,
a crowd gathered in the street and lane; the peasants, the _paludiers_,
and the servants knelt in the court-yard while the rector administ