"Pray take some."
Madame Balzer quickly cut a piece off with her scissors, returned graceful thanks, and after again apologizing for her awkwardness, returned to the corpse.
Several ladies who had witnessed the little scene hastened to the litter.
"The man is dead!" they cried, "nothing can be done here!"
Madame Balzer gazed sorrowfully on the corpse.
"Yes, he is dead!" she said, "we were too late!"
And folding her hands she bowed her head and moved her lips in whispered prayer. Deep devotion appeared on her features. The ladies around followed her example, and uttered a short prayer for the soul of the deceased, whose return was perhaps ardently desired in some distant home.
Then they all went on to other beds.
One of the few gentlemen dispersed amongst the numerous and compassionate nurses, assisting and advising, was Count Rivero.
He was not far off when Madame Balzer hurried to Clara to beg for some linen.