"God's mercy!" cried the prisoner, extricating himself from the embrace; "another lunatic! Upon my soul, I believe I am in an asylum!" But the gesture that he made in stepping back knocked the new-comer's hat to the floor, and the lovely blond tresses of Madame de Cambes fell down about her shoulders. "You here!" he cried, rushing to her, and taking her in his arms once more. "You! oh! forgive me for not recognizing you, or rather for not divining your presence." "Hush!" said she, picking up her hat and hastily replacing it on her head; "hush! for if they knew it was I, perhaps they would turn me out. At last I am permitted to see you once more! Oh, _mon Dieu! mon Dieu!_ how happy I am!" Her bosom heaved, and she sobbed as if her heart would break. _"Once more!"_ said Canolles; "you are permitted to see me _once more,_ you say? In Heaven's name, are you not to see me more than this once?" he added, with a laugh. "Oh! do not laugh!" said Claire; "my dear love, your gayety distresses me. Do not laugh, I implore you! I have had such difficulty in procuring admission,--if you knew!--and I was so near not being able to come at all! Except, for Lenet, the best of men--But let us talk of yourself, my poor dear. _Mon Dieu /_ it is really you, is it not? It is really you whom I can press to my heart again?" "Why, yes, it is I, it is really I," said Canolles, smiling. "Oh! do not affect this cheerful demeanor,--it is useless, I know all. They did not know that I loved you, so they hid nothing from me--" "What is it that you know, pray?" queried Canolles. "You expected me, didn't you?" the viscountess continued. "You were displeased by my silence? Were you not already blaming me?" "Unhappy and dissatisfied I was, beyond question, but I did not blame you. I suspected that circumstances stronger than your will kept you from my side; and the main cause of my unhappiness, through it all, has been the necessary postponement of our marriage for a week,--perhaps for two weeks." Claire stared at Canolles in like amazement to that exhibited by the officer a moment before. "Are you speaking seriously?" said she; "are you not really any more alarmed than you seem to be?" "Alarmed?" said Canolles, "alarmed at what? Can it be," he added with a laugh, "that I am exposed to some danger of which I know nothing?" "Oh! the poor fellow!" cried Claire; "he knew nothing of it!" Dreading, doubtless, to reveal the whole truth without warning to him whose life was imperilled thereby, she checked, by a violent effort, the words that had risen from her heart to her lips. "No, I know nothing," said Canolles, gravely. "But you will tell me, won't you? I am a man! Speak, Claire, speak." "You know that Richon is dead?" said she. "Yes, I know it." "But do you know how he died?" "No, but I suspect. He was killed at his post, was he not, in the breach at Vayres?"