But to do this was to starve, as well as to reveal to Madame Royaume the fact of those seizures of which no one in the world was more ignorant than the good woman who suffered under them.

It followed that to Anne's burden of dread by reason of the outer world, whom she must at all costs deceive, was added the weight of concealment from the one from whom she had never kept anything in her life.

A thing which augmented immeasurably the loneliness of her position and the weight of her load.
Presently the drama, always pitiful, increased in intensity.

The old leech who had been her stay and helper died, and left her to face the danger alone.

A month later Basterga discovered the secret and henceforth held it over her.