The woman seemed turned to marble. The rouge upon her cheeks stood out frightfully scarlet from the dead whiteness of her lips and face. At length she fell upon her knees by the chair she had left, threw her arms over the cushion and shrieked aloud. The dwarf rushed in, seized upon her dress, and began to cry. Gosner leaned against the wall, and must have fallen but for its support; great drops of perspiration stood on his forehead. He had come out of that fearful trance weak as a child. CHAPTER III. THE EGYPTIAN SCARABEE. All at once Madame Du Berry sprang to her feet; her audacious courage assumed all its force. She would not believe the fearful thing that man had said with so much pain. “Go,” she said to the dwarf, “there is no need of all this whimpering. The man is an imposter; my enemies have sent him here. He will boast of the fright he has given me, and they will enjoy the treat. Take your hand from that poniard, Zamara. I will deal with this false wizard alone.” Zamara crept from the room, sobbing piteously. Then the countess turned upon Gosner. “Confess you were put up to this—some bitter enemy hoped to give me a horrible fright. Perhaps it was the Dauphiness, herself, who could not wait for a report, but came, with a crowd of her ladies, to be near when your work was done.” The doctor shook off his weakness, under this rude attack, and walked firmly toward the angry woman. “Madame will remember that I came here by her own command—I will add now, much against my wishes. Heaven knows I do not willingly enter into a scene like the one which has just passed! It has not surprised or wounded you more than it has me.” The countess laughed. Tears stood in her eyes, and her voice broke forth in a shriek. She was hysterical with anger and affright. “You still persist? You wish to leave me in abject terror. Know that in my whole life I—I have never been afraid. Still it would be better to tell me all. I will forgive this wicked attempt to terrify me. Make yourself sure that it has failed—miserably failed. I shall only look upon it as an absurd joke. So you may speak out, and have no fear of punishment.” “I have nothing to say, madame,” answered the doctor, “save that I came here by your command, that I am now ready to retire.” “Then you will not confess? Well, yes, I will appeal to you. I shall be happier, not that I was really frightened; but I shall be happier to know that this was the work of an enemy. Make yourself sure of this, no queen ever rewarded or punished as I will reward or punish you.” “Lady, permit me to depart as I came, deserving neither reward or punishment.” Dr. Gosner moved toward the door. The countess followed him.