"Oh, His Excellency 'll keep his oath," said the mealman.

"I'd take Elise Malboir's word about a man for a million francs, was he prince or ditcher; and she says he's the greatest man in the world.

She knows." "That reminds me," said Lajeunesse gloomily, "Elise has the black fever." The mealman's face seemed to petrify, his eyes stood out, the bread he had in his teeth dropped, and he stared wildly at Lajeunesse.

All were occupied in watching the mealman, and they did not see the figure of a girl approaching.
Muroc, dumfounded, spoke first.

"Elise--the black fever!" he gasped, thoroughly awed.
"She is better, she will live," said a voice behind Lajeunesse.