“No one,” she murmured.
“M. Folgat?”
“Knows nothing of it.”
“And Jacques?”
“I have not seen him. The thought occurred to me quite suddenly, like an inspiration on high. When Dr. Seignebos told me that you had refused to admit the priest from Brechy, I said to myself, ‘This is the last misfortune, and the greatest of them all! If Count Claudieuse dies without retracting, Jacques can never be fully restored, whatever may happen hereafter, not even if his innocence should be established.’ Then I made up my mind to come to you. Ah! it was a hard task. But I was in hopes I might touch your heart, or that you might be moved by the greatness of my sacrifice.”
The countess was really moved. There is no heart absolutely bad, as there is none altogether good. As she listened to Dionysia’s passionate entreaty, her resolution began to grow weaker.
“Would it be such a great sacrifice?” she asked.
Tears sprang to the eyes of the poor young girl.
“Alas!” she said, “I offer you my life. I know very well you will not be long jealous of me.”
She was interrupted by groans, which seemed to come from the room in which the count was lying.