Mad ?" she continued, overwhelmed with agitation, "My God, I would I were, and I should be free from this!" And, turning, she walked a little way from him with the gesture of one under a crushing burden.
He waited a minute, two minutes, three minutes, and still she did not return.

At length she came back, her bearing more composed; she looked at him, and her eyes seized his and seemed as if they would read his soul.
"Are you sure," she said, "of what you have told me?
Will you swear that the contents of these letters are as you say ?" "As I live," he answered gravely.

"As God lives." "And you know--of no other way, Monsieur?
Of no other way ?" she repeated slowly and piteously.
"Of none, Madame, of none, I swear." She sighed deeply, and stood sunk in thought.

Then, "When do we reach Angers ?" she asked heavily.
"The day after to-morrow." "I have--until the day after to-morrow ?" "Yes.

To-night we lie near Vendome." "And to-morrow night ?" "Near a place called La Fleche.