Near the Beguinage, amidst the stress of flood and gust, and in the perplexity of darkness, you had swooned and fallen.

The priest came to your succour, and the physician, as we have seen, supervened.

Between us we procured a fiacre and brought you here.

Pere Silas, old as he is, would carry you up-stairs, and lay you on that couch himself.

He would certainly have remained with you till suspended animation had been restored: and so should I, but, at that juncture, a hurried messenger arrived from the dying patient I had scarcely left--the last duties were called for--the physician's last visit and the priest's last rite; extreme unction could not be deferred.