'And you ran after Gabrielle and caught her,' said the curé, laughing. 'You see, monsieur,' said Nicholas, still very red, 'it would not have done for me to have let those three women go into danger without me. What might have happened? Madeleine was nearly hung, and Gabrielle well-nigh strangled, and I dare say my mother was all but trampled upon by the crowd. It was a foolish thing for them to come--it was not Gabrielle's fault; but, as they came, I could not in conscience leave them unprotected. Madame Deschwanden generally knows how to take care of herself, and so, for the matter of that, does Madeleine; but what if they should be separated by the crowd from poor little Gabrielle? The thought frightened me. And very lucky--no! providential, I will say--was it that I did follow. When I saw her--' he nodded to the girl--'in the hands of those frenzied mad women, I vowed a mass to the honour of Bruder Klaus if he would obtain her release, and extend to her his protection.' 'Bruder Klaus,' repeated Lindet, with a puzzled look; 'who was he? or what was he?' 'Bruder Klaus was a hermit, a patriot, and a saint,' began Nicholas, delighted to find a hearer to whom he could recount the history of his patron. 'The holy brother lived a miraculous life without food----' 'Bruder Klaus must wait a moment,' interrupted Lindet; 'here is some one coming for you.' In fact, Madeleine rushed in, her eyes full of tears, out of breath; she could only articulate, 'Nicholas! quick, your father is dying;' and then, leaning her head on the back of a chair, gasp for air and sob. When she had recovered sufficiently she added, 'The corporal wants to see a priest. M. le Curé, will you follow me?' 'I am ready,' answered Lindet, catching up his hat. 'Come, Gabrielle, come too,' said Madeleine; 'he asked after you.' 'Where is he?' asked Nicholas, his breast heaving convulsedly. 'He is in the gardens,--the park,' answered the girl. 'I found him--he had dragged himself out upon the terrace, and he made me take him out of the way of the crowd to the side of one of the sheets of water, and lay him on the grass.' She could speak no more, for her tears burst forth anew. 'Dear old corporal!' she said between her sobs, 'he never knew how I reverenced and loved him. I would have followed him over the world.' She drew Gabrielle after her, the priest followed. Nicholas ran forward in the direction indicated by the girl,--to the large pond or lake called the Pièce aux Suisses, and when Madeleine came up she found Nicholas supporting his head.