"
Noel bowed low.
"To hear your wish, sir, is to obey it," he said; "I go. This evening,
at your house, I shall have the honour of giving you an account of my
proceedings. Perhaps I shall be able to bring Albert with me."
He spoke, and, again embracing the dead woman, went out.
Soon the count and Mademoiselle d'Arlange also retired.
The old soldier went to the Mayor, to give notice of the death, and to
fulfil the necessary formalities.
The nun alone remained, awaiting the priest, which the cure had promised
to send to watch the corpse.
The daughter of St. Vincent felt neither fear nor embarrassment, she had
been so many times in a similar position. Her prayers said, she arose
and went about the room, arranging everything as it should be in the
presence of death. She removed all traces of the illness, put away the
medicine bottles, burnt some sugar upon the fire shovel, and, on a table
covered with a white cloth at the head of the bed, placed some lighted
candles, a crucifix with holy water, and a branch of palm.
CHAPTER XVII.
Greatly troubled and perplexed by Mademoiselle d'Arlange's revelations,
M. Daburon was ascending the stairs that led to the offices of the
investigating magistrates, when he saw old Tabaret coming towards him.
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