The marquise left the parlour when a loud noise was heard in the office of M. Pascal.
It sounded like the fall of a body on the floor.
The servant, leaving Madeleine and the notary at once, ran to his master's room.
The marquise, after having received bank-bills to the amount of her letter of credit, was just about to enter her carriage, accompanied by the notary, when she saw the servant rush out of the gateway with a frightened air.
"What is the matter, my good friend?" asked the notary, "you seem to be alarmed."
"Ah, monsieur, what a pity! my master has just had an attack of apoplexy. I am running for the physician."
And he disappeared, running at the top of his speed.
"I thought," said the notary, addressing Madeleine, "this dear gentleman did not appear to be in his natural condition. Did you not observe the same thing, madame marquise?"
"I thought, like you, there was something peculiar in the countenance of M. Pascal."
"God grant this attack may be nothing serious, madame. So rich a man to die in the vigour of life, that would really be a pity!"