, you accept the offer of his hand."

"I mean to decline it in the most definite manner."

"Decline?" cried Count Tristan, breathing hard, while his face rapidly
changed color; for at one moment it was overspread with a death-like
pallor, and then, suddenly grew purple. "Decline? Such a thing is not to
be thought of; you are jesting?"

"I was never more serious in my life."

"But you will think better of the matter; you will listen to reason; you
will reverse your decision," pleaded the count, his nervous incoherence
and confusion increasing as he grew more and more agitated. "It's for
the honor of the family to say 'yes,' and therefore 'yes' is the proper
_answer_,--eh, Madeleine? Don't joke any more, my dear; it troubles me;
it gives me such a throbbing and heavy weight in my brain. All's
right,--is it not?"

Count Tristan lay back in his chair, and continued muttering, though his
words were no longer comprehensible.

Madeleine now began to be alarmed, and, approaching him, said kindly,
"Can I give you anything? You are not well. Let me order you a glass of
wine."

He stared at her with vacant, glassy eyes, while his lips moved and
twitched without giving forth any distinct sounds. He lifted up his arms
in appeal; they dropped suddenly, as if struck by a giant's invisible
hand, and his head fell forward heavily.

Madeleine, greatly terrified, spoke to him again and again, shook him
gently by the shoulder, to rouse him,--tried to lift his head; the face
she succeeded in turning toward her was frightfully distorted; white
foam oozed from the lips; the eyes were suffused with blood. She had
never before seen a person in a fit, but instinct told her the nature of
the seizure.

Her violent ringing of the bell quickly brought servants to her
assistance, and she ordered Robert to summon Dr. Bayard with the utmost
haste.

This distinguished physician pronounced the attack apoplexy; and, after
applying those remedies which recent discoveries in science have proved
most efficacious, ordered the patient to be undressed and put to bed.

Madeleine's own chamber was prepared for the count's use. The attack was
of brief duration, and he recovered from its violence soon after the
physician arrived, but remained exhausted and insensible.

Another critical case required Dr. Bayard's immediate attendance, and
after giving Madeleine minute directions, he took his leave, saying that
he would return in a couple of hours.