Sans-Souci tried to send his friend away and to perform that painful task alone; but Jacques would not consent; he was determined to pay the last duties to his brother. And not until the earth had concealed him from his sight did he consent to return to Adeline. “Well,” she said, “what has become of him?” “Have no further fear for him,” said Jacques; “he has escaped; and I give you my word that the law can never lay hold of him now.” Adeline had faith in Jacques’s promise and looked on without apprehension when the gendarmes, a few hours later, searched the house, where of course they did not find Edouard. After some time, Adeline noticed with surprise a tombstone which Jacques had caused to be erected under the willow at the end of the garden. “For whom is this stone?” she asked him. “For my unhappy brother,” Jacques replied. “Is he dead?” “Yes, he is no more; I am absolutely certain of it.” “Alas! in what part of the earth did he end his days?” “He is there,” said Jacques at last, pointing to the end of the garden, at the foot of the willow. Adeline shuddered and dared to ask no more; but every day she took her daughter to pray over the poor beggar’s grave, and Ermance never knew that she was praying for her father. And it was at the foot of the willow that Jacques buried his cross also. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Brother Jacques (Novels of Paul de Kock, Volume XVII), by Charles Paul de Kock