Count Hannibal

A moment or two passed in this way, and then from the hurly-burly in the

gateway the footsteps of two men--one limped--detached themselves and

came nearer and nearer. They stopped without. A gleam of light shone

under the door, and some one knocked.

She went to the door, and, withdrawing the bar, stepped quickly back to

the bedside, where for an instant the light borne by those who entered

blinded her. Then, above the lanthorn, the faces of La Tribe and Bigot

broke upon her, and their shining eyes told her that they bore good news.

It was well, for the men seemed tongue-tied. The minister's fluency was

gone; he was very pale, and it was Bigot who in the end spoke for both.

He stepped forward, and, kneeling, kissed her cold hand.

"My lady," he said, "you have gained all, and lost nothing. Blessed be

God!"

"Blessed be God!" the minister wept. And from the passage without came

the sound of laughter and weeping and many voices, with a flutter of

lights and flying skirts, and women's feet.

She stared at him wildly, doubtfully, her hand at her throat.

"What?" she said, "he is not dead--M. de Tignonville?"

"No, he is alive," La Tribe answered, "he is alive." And he lifted up

his hands as if he gave thanks.

"Alive?" she cried. "Alive! Oh, Heaven is merciful. You are sure? You

are sure?"

"Sure, Madame, sure. He was not in their hands. He was dismounted in

the first shock, it seems, and, coming to himself after a time, crept

away and reached St. Gilles, and came hither in a boat. But the enemy

learned that he had not entered with us, and of this the priest wove his

snare. Blessed be God, who put it into your heart to escape it!"

The Countess stood motionless, and with closed eyes pressed her hands to

her temples. Once she swayed as if she would fall her length, and Bigot

sprang forward to support and save her. But she opened her eyes at that,

sighed very deeply, and seemed to recover herself.

"You are sure?" she said faintly. "It is no trick?"

"No, Madame, it is no trick," La Tribe answered. "M. de Tignonville is

alive, and here."

"Here!" She started at the word. The colour fluttered in her cheek.

"But the keys," she murmured. And she passed her hand across her brow.

"I thought--that I had them."