"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," said the other, "was it you who fired that fatal shot? You very nearly killed my poor patient." "But, monsieur, I fired in the air." "You would have done the countess less harm had you fired at her." "Then we must not reproach each other, monsieur, for the sight of the