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After another cupful, his eyes half opened. Within an hour a perspiration came, and he was very quiet, and sleeping easily. Parpon crouched near the door, watching it all with deep, piercing eyes. Madame Degardy never moved from her place, but stood shaking her head and muttering.
Madame Degardy!" she cried, with sudden inspiration. "Ah, I will find her; she may save him with her herbs!" She hurried out of the house and down through the village to the little hut by the river, where the old woman lived. Elise had been to Madame Degardy as good a friend as a half-mad creature, with no memory, would permit her.
At last he spoke in a low tone to the avocat, who quickly began writing at his dictation. The chief clause of the record was a legacy of ten thousand francs to "my faithful Minister and constant friend, Monsieur Parpon;" another of ten thousand to Madame Joan Degardy, "whose skill and care of me merits more than I can requite;" twenty thousand to "the Church of St.
She was the Cure's champion everywhere, and he in turn was tender towards the homeless body, whose history even to him was obscure, save in the few particulars that he had given to Valmond the last time they had met. In her youth Madame Degardy was pretty and much admired.
At last he spoke in a low tone to the avocat, who quickly began writing at his dictation. The chief clause of the record was a legacy of ten thousand francs to "my faithful Minister and constant friend, Monsieur Parpon;" another of ten thousand to Madame Joan Degardy, "whose skill and care of me merits more than I can requite;" twenty thousand to "the Church of St.
Her hand caught her bosom as if to stifle a sudden pain. That song had been the keynote to her new life, and it seemed now as if it were also to be the final benediction. All her spirit gathered itself up for a great resolution: she would not yield to this invading weakness, this misery of body and mind. Some one drew out of the shadows and came towards her. It was Madame Degardy.
Soon after he had gone, there was a noise of tramping about the tent, and then a suppressed cheer, which was fiercely stopped by Parpon, and the soldiers of the Household Troops scattered to their tents. "What's that?" asked Valmond, opening his eyes bewilderedly. "Your soldiers, sire," answered the dwarf. Valmond smiled languidly. Then he saw Madame Degardy and Elise.
They have to come to her; the great folks have to come to her!" So she meandered on, filling the jug. Later, in the warm dusk, they travelled up to Dalgrothe Mountain, and came to Valmond's tent. By the couch knelt Parpon, watching the laboured breathing of the sick man. When he saw Madame Degardy, he gave a growl of joy, and made way for her.
She had decided for herself. Life! that was all she prayed for: for another's sake, not her own. Her own mother slept on, in the corner of the room, unconscious of the terrible verdict hanging in the balance. Madame Degardy quickly emptied into a cup of liquor the strange brown powder, mixed it, and held it to the girl's lips, pouring it slowly down.
She was of the chosen few who could drink the cup of light and the cup of darkness with equally regnant soul. But it might lay her low in the very hour of Valmond's trouble. She must conquer it how? To whom could she turn for succour? There was but one, yet she could not seek Madame Degardy, for the old woman would drive her to her bed, and keep her there.
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