Catherine and Sidonie, the little cripple, remain, but the others file slowly out into the yard. As she is leaving an old peasant woman is motioned to remain. She is a nonentity, but a woman who will follow Monsieur Eugène’s directions to the letter without a quiver of the eyelids or the lips. Nothing astonishes her, for she is like an iceberg--immovable and unfathomable. In the village there are people who declare she never speaks. Jeannille Marselon is a curiosity to the villagers, who years since have ceased trying to thaw out this living icicle. [Illustration] [Illustration] CHAPTER V. SIDONIE. Scarcely had the door closed upon the crowd when Monsieur Eugène threw off his coat, and bending over Bruno’s prostrate form said: “First let us see if there is life.” With these words he rested his head on Bruno’s chest. Jean Manant could hardly breathe, so deep was his dread of the possible truth; while poor little Sidonie was choked with anguish. After a moment of cruel suspense Eugène raised his head sadly, as if to regain his breath, and then once more inclined his ear. Jean Manant and Sidonie were in despair. Catherine alone remained calm and collected. A few more moments of suspense passed, and then with a little cry Monsieur Eugène sprang up. “He is living. His heart is beating, though faintly,” said he. “Wait!” He immediately selected a lance from an unpretentious little surgeon’s case near by and summoned the three women to help him. “Here, Jeannille,” he quickly called, “support Bruno’s head and shoulders--like that. And you, Madame Barrau, will you kindly hold his wrist firmly? You are not easily frightened, are you? I am going to bleed him.” “All right,” answered Catherine, without a sign of flinching, as she seized his wrist, but poor Sidonie was trembling like an aspen-leaf. Under the lance the vein was opened and there spurted out a stream of blood, the sight of which nearly distracted the little lame girl. “Good! good!” said Monsieur Eugène, with a smile. “Is he saved?” asked Jean in a trembling whisper. “At all events, the chances are in his favor.” “But those cattle must have crushed his bones,” insisted Manant, who was still possessed by a horrible doubt. “Jean, my boy, it is a miracle; but, barring more or less severe contusions, Bruno has escaped.” Still incredulous, Jean regarded Monsieur Eugène steadily for half a minute as if to read the truth in the latter’s face. Calmly Eugène returned his gaze and soon Jean’s doubts vanished, for a sigh fell from Bruno’s lips. A great joy illumined Manant’s face and Sidonie lifted her eyes in prayer. Old Jeannille sat unmoved and impenetrable. Catherine looked at the young man a little curiously. He seemed too slender and delicate a fellow to be so daring. His white arm was like a woman’s. Indeed, what woman in St. Benoit could not boast of more muscle than he? And his slender wrist inspired a sort of pity in her breast.