Once in the carriage, all immediate danger having disappeared, the excitement which had sustained her fled.

She became unconscious, and all the efforts of Maurice and of the priest had failed to restore her.
But Mme.

d'Escorval did not recognize Mlle.

Lacheneur in the masculine habiliments in which she was clothed.
She only saw that it was not her husband whom they had brought with them; and a convulsive shudder shook her from head to foot.
"Your father, Maurice!" she exclaimed, in a stifled voice; "and your father!" The effect was terrible.

Until that moment, Maurice and the cure had comforted themselves with the hope that M.d'Escorval would reach home before them.
Maurice tottered, and almost dropped his precious burden.