"I promise—I swear it," replied the prince, in a firm and grave voice.
The daughter of the farmer of Elva felt the blood rush to her heart.
The dying woman spoke now so low that she could hardly be heard, as if she were speaking to herself.
"With her the name of the Olsdorfs will remain unstained."
She would have fallen back heavily if the prince, who was supporting her, had not laid her gently on the pillows.
This effort was her last. In a few moments the dying woman was delirious. Her widely opened eyes were expressionless; her lips, distorted by a convulsive smile, spoke only broken words, the last expression of the last beating of her heart: "My children—Pierre—Vera—Marthe—mother—Dumesnil—all—all are here—and he—only he—"
Pierre Olsdorf understood that Lise's thoughts had turned for a moment to her husband; and he lowered his head that he might not see in a corner of the death-chamber the cradle of the child whose father he had killed.
Suddenly a cry of horror was heard.
Leaning over her daughter, Mme. Podoi had felt her last breath upon her face.
Mme. Meyrin, the ex-Princess Olsdorf, was no more.