"Not Mathieu?" continued Marthe. "What has happened, Aline? You have not bad news? It is not Jacques?" and her lips grew paler. "No, no, ma tante." "What is it, then? Speak, or—or—why, you have been to the château!" she said abruptly, as Aline came into the lamplight. "Why, Marthe, what makes you say that?" said Ange, in a startled voice. "The rust on her cloak—see, it is all stained. She has been leaning against the iron gates. What took you there, and what has alarmed you?" "I—I saw——" "A ghost?" inquired Marthe with sharp sarcasm. Ange rose up, trembling. "Oh, she has come back! I know it, I have felt it! She has come back," she cried. "Ange, don’t be a fool," said Marthe, but her eyes were anxious. "Speak then, Aline, and tell us what you saw." "It is true, she has come back," said Aline, looking away from Mlle Ange, who put her hands before her eyes with a little cry and stood so a full minute, whilst Marthe gave a harsh laugh, and then bit her lip as if in pain. "Come back to die?" Ange said at last, very low. "Alone?"—and she turned on Aline. "No, a niece is with her. It was she whom I saw. I knew her in Paris—in prison; and, ma tante, they have no food in the house, and I said I would take them some." "No food goes from this house to that," said Marthe loudly, but Ange caught her hand. "Oh, we can’t let them starve." "And why not, Angel, why not? The old devil! She has done enough mischief in the world, and now that her time has come, let her go. Does she expect us, us, to weep for her?" "No, no; but I can’t let her starve—you know I can’t." Marthe laughed again. "No, perhaps not, but I could, and I would." She paused. "So you ’d heap coals of fire—feed her, save her, eh, Angel?" "Oh, Marthe, don’t! For the love of God, don’t speak to me like that—when you know—when you know!" Marthe pulled her down with an impulsive gesture that drew a groan from her. "Ah, Ange," she said in a queer, broken voice; and Ange kissed her passionately and ran out of the room. There was a long, heavy pause. Then Marthe said: "So you’ve heard the story? Who told you?" "Mère Leroux, to-night." "And a very suitable occasion. Who says life is not dramatic? So Mère Leroux told you, and you went up to the château to see if it was haunted, and it was. Ciel, if those stones could speak! But there ’s enough without that—quite enough." She was silent again, and after awhile Mlle Ange came back, wrapped in a thick cloak and carrying a basket. Aline started forward. "Ma tante, I may come too? It is so dark." "And the dark is full of ghosts?" said Ange Desaix, under her breath. "Well, then, child, you may come. Indeed, the basket is heavy, and I shall be glad of your help."