ppeal, however, gave me
a self-confidence and an energy which I had not felt before, and I
listened to the explanations of the old servant with every desire to aid
her.

She judged rightly enough that as soon as removal were possible, the
safest course would be for the widow and her daughter to return to their
village.

"I know," added she, "that this is not to be effected without
difficulty. 'Madame' will oppose it to the last; and it may be that
nothing short of force will accomplish it."

I asked the reason of this repugnance, and she only gave me a vague,
unmeaning answer. It was clear to me there was a mystery in the affair;
and though piqued that I was not intrusted with the secret, I felt that
to withdraw my aid from them on such grounds would be both selfish and
unworthy.

"I will consult M. le Monnier," said I, at last; "he shall decide what
is best to be done;" and at once set out for the Rue Quincampoix.

The old lawyer received me blandly as before, and gave me a few lines
for his family physician, who would see the widow and Marguerite, and
pronounce his opinion on their fitness for removal. Le Monnier seemed
pleased with the interest I manifested for these poor friendless people,
and readily promised to aid me in their behalf.

The doctor, too, was no less benevolently disposed, and came at once
with me to the house. His visit was a long one,--so long that more than
once I asked Lizette if she were quite certain that he had not taken
his departure. At length, however, he came forth, and, leading me into a
room, closed the door behind us with all the air of great secrecy.

"There is some sad story," said he, "here, of which we have not the
clew. This is a serious affair."

"How do you mean?" asked I.

"I mean that the state in which I find this woman is not attributable
to the recent shock. It is not her husband's death has caused these
symptoms."

"And what are they? Do they threaten her life?"

"No, certainly not; she may live for years."

"What then? They will cause great suffering, perhaps?"

"Not even that, but worse than that. It is her intelligence is lost;
she has been stunned by some terrible shock of calamity, and her mind is
gone, in all likelihood forever!"

To my eager questioning he replied by explaining that these cases were
far less hopeful than others in which more palpable symptoms manifested
themselves; that they were of all others the least susceptible of
treatment.