Tossing her head painfully from one side to the other as if seeking something, she made an effort to raise her arm; it dropped immediately beside her; she then proceeded to say: "See yonder large trunk--open it--you will find in it--a bronze casket--bring it to me--" I did as I was bid, and deposited a rather heavy bronze casket near her on the couch. At that moment Sampso, whom Mora notified of Victoria's condition, came in. "Sampso," said Victoria, "take this casket--take it away with you--keep it carefully locked--open it in three days--the key is tied to the lid." And addressing me: "Did you transcribe Tetrik's conversation with me?" "I was just finishing it when Mora ran in to me." "Sampso, take that casket away to your room immediately, and bring me the parchment on which Schanvoch has just been writing. Go, we have not a minute to spare!" Sampso obeyed and left the room distracted. I remained alone with Victoria. "Brother," she said to me, "every minute is precious. Listen to what I have to say to you without interrupting me. I feel that I am dying; I think I know the hand that smote me, without her being herself aware of what she was doing. This crime caps a long series of dark and felonious deeds. My death is at this moment a grave danger to Gaul. We must avert the danger. You are known in the army--my confidence in you is known--call the officers and soldiers together--inform them of Tetrik's schemes. The conversation that you transcribed will be signed by me, in order to verify your words. My life is ebbing fast. Oh! If I but had the time to gather here around my death-bed the officers of the army who this very evening will surround my funeral pyre. Upon that pyre I wish you to lay the arms of my father, my husband and Victorin, also the cradle of my little grandson!" "Schanvoch!" cried Sampso precipitately entering the room, "The parchments that you left upon the table--have disappeared. But I saw them lying on your desk when Mora came in to call me. They must have been taken away since."