Her Last Stake, Chapters I-V [pp. 815-839]

HER LAST STAKE.
An hour or two passed, and she went about her work as
usual, with a sickening horror at her heart and a dreary longing
to hear more of the tragedy which lay, as it were, at theii door.
Then a tap and a whispered summons came, and she' found
herself standing before M. Grosjean beside the still sealed door.
"You know what has happened? " he said to her very
gravely. "Can you tell us anything about-her; anything
which may be of use at the inquest?"
She shook her head. "You know that I never heard anything of her past or of her friends; you asked me that before."
"When did you see her last?"
"Yesterday."
"Morning or afternoon?"
"Afternoon. I went in to see her, and found her dressed
to go out. She went while I was there."
"So you were almost the last person to speak to her, hereabouts at least. Well, how did she seem?"
"Much as usual. Perhaps rather brighter than usual."
"Did she tell you that I had given her notice to leave?"
"Yes."
"What did she say about it?"
"She said that she was going to' try her luck' once more:"
"And did she say what she would do if she lost?"
"No." Thankful indeed was Sister Gabrielle to be able to
speak that "no." She knew what was the underlying thought
in the questioner's mind, the scarcely defined dread in her own;
and there rose up in her mind a wild desire to combat that
suspicion.
"Well, you can tell me nothing more?" questioned M.
Grosjean. "It is very perplexing. One does not know what to
do. The consul has telegraphed to the lady who wrote once
before-you remember? The only address we have."
"You... they will not want to question me-elsewhere, will they?"
"Oh, I suppose not, unless the consul wishes to see you."
"Do tell me, please "-she hesitated as to how to word her
inquiry-" how do they think it happened?"
"They say that either she missed her footing and fell under
the carriage, or-" he shrugged his shoulders with a significant
gesture.
"She fell down, I am sure of it!" responded the nun
eagerly; "you know she was still very, very weak from her illness; I have often seen her stumble in going upstairs."
I 894.]
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