A strange phenomenon now took place. Sanselme drew a long breath and began to run after the carriage—he felt no more lassitude nor weakness. His entire vital strength was concentrated in his superhuman effort. And this man who just now could not hold himself erect, ran on swiftly without hesitation. With his eyes on the carriage lamps he followed them unerringly. Somnambulists and madmen alone do such things. And Sanselme ran as if he were in a dream. He saw the carriage stop at last, and he heard violent blows upon a door. And then he entered as well as the others, and appeared on the scene just as Benedetto leaped from the window.
Sanselme beheld Jane, and in that moment of agony his broken, bleeding heart loosed its grasp upon his secret, for he cried out:
"Jane! my daughter! My beloved daughter!"
Fanfar instantly understood the truth and laid his hand compassionately on his shoulder.
"Courage!" he said, gently.
But Sanselme shook off the hand, and before any one knew what he meant to do, he climbed upon the window, crying:
"Benedetto! You shall not escape!"
And he, too, leaped into the water. Benedetto was scarce a minute in advance.
Benedetto had made a mistake. He knew of a secret egress from this house, but he forgot it, so great was his fear.