The old woman's news had touched a chord which, though dulled and slackened by the heat and dust of seventeen years of busy, anxious life, still vibrated strongly, and awakened memories that had long slept in the chambers of his brain, especially one pale Madonna face, with its soft, tear-trembling eyes that 'Ciel! he suddenly exclaimed, as the door opened and gave to view the very form his fancy had conjured up: 'Ciel! can it be Pshaw! he added, as he fell back into the chair from which he had leaped up; 'you must suppose me crazed, Mademoiselle Mademoiselle de la Tour, I am quite certain.