She opened the letter, saw Bazilio’s handwriting, and divined everything at a glance; she looked at Jorge for a moment with the gaze of madness, extended her arms mutely, then raised her hands to her head with an uneasy gesture as if she had received a sudden wound, gave a hoarse cry, staggered and fell, first upon her knees, and then full length upon the floor.
Jorge uttered a cry, and the two servants came running in. They laid her on the bed. Jorge told Joanna to run quickly for Sebastião, and stood stupefied beside the bed, gazing at her, while Marianna loosened her mistress’s dress.
Sebastião came at once. There was ether in the house, and they made her inhale it. When she opened her eyes Jorge threw himself down beside her on the bed.
“Speak, Luiza, hear me!” he cried. “I do not doubt you, no! only speak to me. What do you feel?”
At the sound of his voice a convulsive shudder ran through her, and she fainted again. Sebastião went hastily in search of Julião.
Luiza appeared sunk in a stupor, motionless and white as wax, her hands lying helplessly outside the quilt, while two tears rolled slowly down her cheeks. Shortly afterwards a carriage stopped at the door, and Julião entered, out of breath.
“She took ill suddenly, Julião. Come, she is very ill,” cried Jorge, meeting him at the door.
They made her inhale more ether, and she again came to herself. Julião spoke to her while he felt her pulse.
“No, I want no one,” she murmured, drawing away her hand; and she repeated impatiently, “I want no one; go away!”
Her tears continued to flow. They went out of the bedroom, in order not to irritate her, but they soon heard her call,—