Fantastic fragments were sticking out of it, shapeless, gruesome white fragments. Dithering as I was, how did I ever have the courage to pick one up, run my fingers over it, examine it....
Yet that is exactly what I did. I had that bone, a right tibia, in my hands, feeling it, examining it.
And then I uttered a loud cry, for in the middle of that bone my finger came into contact with the mark of an old fracture.
* * * * * *
How I managed to give Duke Joachim his history lesson next morning is a thing I've never ceased to wonder at. I kept my eyes off the mirror, terrified lest I should see a ghastly face reflected in it.
At eleven o'clock I was in the Archduchess's small boudoir.
The old Russian waiting-woman went off to tell Melusine, who came at once. I could see from the half-humorous surprise in her manner that my call, at that hour, was considered extremely strange.
"You want to see the Grand Duchess, my friend! You are very bold. Well, as it's you... I'm sure you wouldn't have come without some very good ..."
As she spoke she drew aside the curtains. The sun shone full on my face. She started at my appearance, and with difficulty suppressed an exclamation.
"I'll go and fetch her," she said simply.