It was a peaceful and almost sweet suffering.

She saw vaguely through the clouds the little room of the Rue Spontini transported by angels to one of the summits of the Himalaya Mountains, and Robert Le Menil--in the quaking of a sort of world's end--had disappeared while putting on his gloves.

She felt her pulse to see whether she were feverish.

A rattle of silverware on the table awoke her.

She heard her husband saying: "My dear friend Gavaut delivered to-day, in the Chamber, an excellent speech on the question of the reserve funds.