"But think, there is only one hour before the train goes."
"There is plenty of time."
There was nothing to be done but to have their things packed in the trunks and to rush in haste to the station, and the nerves of the excited girl were only somewhat calmed when the whistle of the engine announced their departure and they were off over the arid tracts of land outside Madrid.
The day following her arrival at Lancia, she did not appear to greet her father, nor to take chocolate with him as usual. When the father was thinking of calling her, a servant suddenly entered his room looking pale and agitated.
"The señorita is taken very ill!"
Don Juan repaired to his daughter's apartment, and found her in all the agonies of violent sickness.
"Quick! fetch the doctor!" cried the poor father.
Fernanda made a negative gesture, and weakly muttered: "No; send for the father confessor."
But no notice was taken of this remark. The doctor came, and after carefully considering the case, he called Don Juan aside and said to him:
"Your daughter has taken a large quantity of laudanum."