The younger woman turned aside. In spite of her firmness, of which she had given so many proofs, she could not bear that dreadful sight.
"Reflect, Madame," continued the widow; "reflect that before what you are attempting can be accomplished, many and many a poor man, whose only crime is to have loved you well,--many fathers, many sons, many brothers,--will be, like this one, lying dead. Reflect that many widows, many sisters, many orphans will be weeping and mourning, as I do, for him who was all their love and all their stay!"
"My God! my God!" exclaimed the princess, bursting into tears, as she fell on her knees and raised her arms to heaven; "if we are mistaken,--if we must render an account to thee for all these hearts we are about to break--"
Her voice, drowned in tears, died away in a moan.
[XLI.]
THE SEARCH.
A knock was heard on the trap-door leading to the garret.
"What is the matter?" cried Bonneville's voice.
He had heard a few words of what had passed, and became uneasy.
"Nothing, nothing," said the young woman, pressing the hand of her hostess with an affectionate strength that showed the impression the poor widow's words had made upon her. Then, giving another tone to her voice, she cried out cheerfully, going a few steps up the ladder to speak more easily, "And you--?"