Oh! sir, what a picture! poverty in all its
horrors--and no hope of saving the expiring mother!"
"Oh! how frightful must have been her agony, if the thought of her daughter
was present!"
"Her last words were--my daughter!"
"What a death! she, the tender mother, so devoted. It is terrible!"
Here one of the sisters entered, interrupting the conversation, and said to
the lady: "The young lady is very feeble--she scarcely has any
consciousness; in a short time she may revive. If you do not fear to remain
here, madame, and wait until she comes to herself, I will offer you my
chair."
"Give it to me," said Clemence, taking a seat along-side of the bed. "I
will not take my eyes from her; I wish that she should, at least, see a
friendly face when she recovers; then I will take her with me, since the
doctor decides that she can be removed without danger."
"Oh! madame, may God bless you for what you do," said Saint Remy; "but
pardon me for not having told you my name--so much sorrow! so much
emotion!--I am the Count de Saint Remy; the husband of Madame de Fermont
was my most intimate friend. I live at Angers. I left that city because I
was uneasy at not having received any news from these two noble and worthy
women. I have since heard that they have been completely ruined."
"Oh! sir, you do not know all. Madame Fermont has been most cruelly
despoiled!"
"By her notary, perhaps? For a moment I had such a suspicion.
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