And whilst the train increased its speed, bearing all this human despair onward, under the heavy sky, athwart the burning plains, there was yet another scare in the carriage.

The strange man had apparently ceased to breathe, and a voice cried out that he was expiring.
III.

POITIERS AS soon as the train arrived at Poitiers, Sister Hyacinthe alighted in all haste, amidst the crowd of porters opening the carriage doors, and of pilgrims darting forward to reach the platform.

"Wait a moment, wait a moment," she repeated, "let me pass first.

I wish to see if all is over." Then, having entered the other compartment, she raised the strange man's head, and seeing him so pale, with such blank eyes, she did at first think him already dead.