Before it was over, the headache and faintness grew worse, and I gave her wine, and still suspected nothing.

The last time I came in, she had grown so much worse, that notwithstanding her wedding dress, she had lain down on her bed, looking for all the world like a ghost, and told me she had the most dreadful burning pain in her chest.

Then, madame, the horrid truth struck me--I tore down her dress, and there, sure enough, was the awful mark of the distemper.

`You have the plague!' I shrieked; and then I fled down stairs and out of the house, like one crazy.

O madame, madame! I shall never forget it--it was terrible! I shall never forget it! Poor, poor child; and the count does not know a word of it!" La Masque laughed--a sweet, clear, deriding laugh, "So the count does not know it, Prudence?
Poor man! he will be in despair when he finds it out, won't he?
Such an ardent and devoted lover as he was you know!" Prudence looked up a little puzzled.
"Yes, madame, I think so.