Mars! She wore a funereal expression; one would have said that she had returned from Ethelwood's obsequies, after having the day before been at those of Edith. She beat about the bush in all sorts of ways to break it to me that the committee did not think my play was suitable for acting. According to her, the play was only half written, "What became of Edith after she had flung the key into the abyss? What became of Ethelwood, enclosed in the vault? What became of the king's sister, who was enamoured of this living dead man? Was it possible that Providence could look on at such a crime without interfering? That divine justice could hear of such a grievance and find no true bill? There must be a sequel to be joined to such a beginning, a second part to attach to this first. Was there no way of turning the sister of the king to account? Could she not represent faithfulness, as Edith represented ingratitude? Could she not descend into the vault to see her dead lover as the king had done to see his dead fiancée? Could not that happen to the sister which had nearly happened in the king's case and Ethelwood?..." I took hold of Mademoiselle Mars's hand. "The play is saved," I said to her; "it shall be called _Catherine Howard._ Thanks to you, I perceive the ending.... Where are my friends that I may announce the good news to them?" But my friends were far away. They found a disused door by which they could make sure of fleeing without meeting me. Next day I received a letter from the secretary of the Comédie-Française, which invited me to take away the manuscript. "Fling it into the fire!" I replied. I do not know whether he obeyed my instructions; but I know I never saw it again and the only verses which I remember are the two and a half I have quoted-- "On les immola tous, sire:--ils étaient trois mille!" And that was how the beautiful _Édith aux longs cheveux_ was buried. We will tell in due order and place how there came into existence her sister, _Catherine Howard,_ who was not worth much more than she was, and who died in the flower of her age, in the year of grace 1834. BOOK III CHAPTER I An invasion of cholera--Aspect of Paris--Medicine and the scourge --Proclamation of the Prefect of Police--The supposed poisoners--Harel's newspaper paragraph--Mademoiselle Dupont--Eugène Durieu and Anicet Bourgeois--Catherine (not Howard) and the cholera--First performance of _Mari de la veuve_--A horoscope which did not come true