ith my hand, as
if to drive the phantom away, that gesture which you have
noticed--that gesture of which since then I have never got rid.

"'Do not be afraid, papa; I was not dead. Somebody tried to steal my
rings, and cut one of my fingers, the blood began to flow, and this
reanimated me.'

"And, in fact, I could see that her hand was covered with blood.

"I fell on my knees, choking with sobs and with a rattling in my
throat.

"Then, when I had somewhat collected my thoughts, though I was still
so much dismayed that I scarcely realized the gruesome good-fortune
that had fallen to my lot, I made her go up to my room, and sit down
in my easy-chair; then I ran excitedly for Prosper to get him to light
up the fire again and to get her some wine and summon the rest of the
servants to her assistance.

"The man entered, stared at my daughter, opened his mouth with a gasp
of alarm and stupefaction, and then fell back insensible.

"It was he who had opened the vault, and who had mutilated, and then
abandoned, my daughter, for he could not efface the traces of the
theft. He had not even taken the trouble to put back the coffin into
its place, feeling sure, besides, that he would not be suspected by
me, as I completely trusted him.

"You see, Monsieur, that we are very unhappy people."

* * * * *

He stopped.

The night had fallen, casting its shadows over the desolate, mournful
vale, and a sort of mysterious fear possessed me at finding myself by
the side of those strange beings, of this young girl who had come back
from the tomb and this father with his uncanny spasm.

I found it impossible to make any comment on this dreadful story. I
only murmured:

"What a horrible thing!"

Then, after a minute's silence, I added:

"Suppose we go back. I think it is getting cold."

And we made our way back to the hotel.

A DUEL

The war was over. The Germans occupied France. The country was panting
like a wrestler lying under the knee of his successful opponent.

The first trains from Paris, after the city's long agony of famine and
despair, were making their way to the new frontiers, slowly passing
through the country districts and the villages. The passengers gazed
through the windows at the ravaged fields and burnt hamlets. Prussian
soldiers, in their black helmets with brass spikes, were smoking their
pipes on horseback or sitting on chairs in front of the houses which
were