But make haste; my strength is nearly gone.' "The chest was heavy, but I was very strong.
"In less than ten minutes the task of removing the chest from the chateau was accomplished, without a single sound that would betray us.
As I closed the window, I said: "'It is done, godmother.' "'God be praised!' she whispered; 'Sairmeuse is saved!' "I heard a deep sigh.

I turned; she was dead." This scene that M.Lacheneur was relating rose vividly before him.
To feign, to disguise the truth, or to conceal any portion of it was an impossibility.
He forgot himself and his daughter; he thought only of the dead woman, of Mlle.

Armande de Sairmeuse.
And he shuddered on pronouncing the words: "She was dead." It seemed to him that she was about to speak, and to insist upon the fulfilment of his pledge.
After a moment's silence, he resumed, in a hollow voice: "I called for aid; it came.

Mademoiselle Armande was adored by everyone; there was great lamentation, and a half hour of indescribable confusion followed her death.

I was able to withdraw, unnoticed, to run into the garden, and to carry away the oaken chest.