"O mon Dieu! Gustave is dead!" shrieked Adolphine, and fell back unconscious, while a ghastly pallor overspread her features.
"My child! my child! what is it, in God's name?" cried Monsieur Gerbault, trying to revive Adolphine; but she did not open her eyes.
Madeleine was summoned, and brought salts and vinegar. They carried the girl to an open window, while Cherami exclaimed:
"No, no; it isn't Gustave who's dead.—Poor girl! on my word, I was far from anticipating this. And it's because she thought Gustave was dead that she fainted. Well! well! well! Ah! the color's coming back a little; it will amount to nothing. See! she's opening her eyes; I will bring her back to life entirely."
He stooped over Adolphine, who was gazing listlessly about, and said:
"Let me set your mind at rest, mademoiselle; it's not Gustave who is dead; I wasn't talking about Castor."
"Is that true, monsieur?" she cried eagerly.
"I swear it by your head—and I wouldn't for the world endanger such a charming head!"
"Pray explain yourself then, monsieur!" said Monsieur Gerbault; "of whose death did you come to tell us?"
"Of your son-in-law, Auguste Monléard's; he died about two o'clock to-day, in the Bois de Boulogne."