the
Duchess, and somewhat calmer than he had first been, perceived a faint
palpitation. He placed a mirror near Felina's lips, and a thin mist
overcast it. "She lives!" said Monte-Leone; "a lethargic sleep has
plunged her in this apparent death. Thank heaven, from having taken too
small a dose, the opium has acted as a narcotic--not as a poison. She
must be roused from this dangerous state. Listen," said he to the
servant, "I have a friend who will save your mistress without noise or
scandal. He is a physician, as skilful as he is prudent. Send him this,
at once," said he, writing hastily a few lines on a fragment of paper he
took from the Duchess's desk. "Order the carriage at once, say that your
mistress is ill and a physician indispensable. Suffer no one to enter
this room but the person for whom I have written, and I will answer for
the consequences. Here, this note is for Doctor Matheus, No. 7 _rue de
Babylonne_--hurry."

When Monte-Leone was alone with the Duchess, he sought to arouse her
from the sleep which oppressed her, by making her inhale the perfumes of
several flacons which he found near. This was, however, in vain, and he
soon abandoned it. "Poor woman," said he, sitting by and looking at her
with compassion; "this is then the end of her life and love: to what
misery has she been led by passion, while mine was not more lasting than
the perfume of a rose." As he abandoned himself to these cruel thoughts,
the eyes of the Count fell on a letter, which she had with her expiring
strength attempted to throw into the fire. It had, however, fallen on
the hearth and was but partially burned. The Count took hold of it with
the intention of destroying it, lest it might contain some secret
compromising the Duchess. Just, however, as he was about to destroy it,
he fancied that he saw his own name, and unable to resist his curiosity,
he glanced rapidly over it. The following detached phrases had been
spared by the fire:

"You gave me bread when I was famishing,
and apparel when I had none....

"The consequence of....

"body and soul....

"But I feel your....

"is mine....

"belongs to you....

"This Monte-Leone deserves to be....

"offends you....

"live for you....

"or if I....

"It will be for me...."

"What is the meaning of this, said the Count, and what does she
meditate? Has the Duchess a confidant? Can this man be my enemy? How
have I injured