A moment more and the berlin was gone; it seemed to him that the shadow of his sorrowful youth, emerged suddenly from the realm of shades, had been plunged back there forever, and that the fay of hope--she who holds in her keeping the secrets of the future--was ascending toward him, red-hooded, flowers in her hands, sunshine in her eyes.

The clouds parted, the deep shadow covering the Vallee du Diable cleared away, and the dismal solitude began to smile.

Count Abel arose, picked up his staff, and shook himself.

As he passed before the cavern, he discovered, among the tufts of aconite which covered it, a mossy hollow, and he perceived that this hollow was ornamented with beautiful blue campanulas, whose little bells gracefully waved in the gentle breeze which was stirring.

He gathered one of these campanulas, carried it to his lips, and found its taste most agreeable.