Madame Gerdy's large arm-chair was near the window; a newspaper, all crumpled, lay before it on the carpet.
The amateur detective took in the whole at a glance.
"Has any accident happened ?" he asked of the girl.
"Do not speak of it, sir: we have just had a fright! oh, such a fright!" "What was it?
tell me quickly!" "You know that madame has been ailing for the last month.

She has eaten I may say almost nothing.

This morning, even, she said to me--" "Yes, yes! but this evening ?" "After her dinner, madame went into the drawing-room as usual.

She sat down and took up one of M.Noel's newspapers.

Scarcely had she begun to read, when she uttered a great cry,--oh, a terrible cry! We hastened to her; madame had fallen on to the floor, as one dead.