The first thing upon which he fixed his gaze was this phantom standing erect by his bedside.

At that sight his eyes became dilated, but without any appearance of consciousness in them.

The lady thereupon made a sign to her companion, who had remained at the door; and, in all probability, the latter had already received her lesson, for in a clear tone of voice, and without any hesitation whatever, she pronounced these words, "Monsieur le Comte, her royal highness Madame is desirous of knowing how you are able to bear your wound, and to express to you, by my lips, her great regret at seeing you suffer." As she pronounced the word Madame, Guiche started; he had not as yet remarked the person to whom the voice belonged, and he naturally turned toward the direction whence it proceeded.

But, as he felt the cold hand still resting on his own, he again turned toward the motionless figure beside him.

"Was it you who spoke, madame ?" he asked, in a weak voice, "or is there another person beside you in the room ?" "Yes," replied the figure, in an almost unintelligible voice, as she bent down her head.
"Well!" said the wounded man, with a great effort, "I thank you.