He saw clearly di Leyni had not dared to repeat the
terrible words to her--"I will come and die in your house." It was his
lot to deal her the first blow.
"My dear," he said, gently and paternally, "did he not tell you at the
Sacro Speco that he would call you to him in a solemn hour? The hour is
come, he calls you."
Jeanne started violently. She did not believe she had heard aright.
"Oh, how is this? No!" she exclaimed.
Then, as Selva continued silent, with the same pity in his eyes, a flash
shot through her heart. "Ah!" she cried, and her whole being went out in
mute and agonized questioning. Selva pressed her hands still harder, his
tightly closed lips twitched, and a suppressed sob wrung his breast. She
said never a word, but would have fallen had not his hands upheld her.
He supported her, and then led her to a seat,
"At once?" she said. "At once? Is it imminent?"
"No. no. He wishes to see you to-morrow. He believes it will be
to-morrow, but he may be mistaken. Let us hope he is mistaken,"
"My God, Selva! But the doctor writes that he has no fever!"
Selva made the gesture of one who is obliged to admit the presence of a
misfortune without understanding it.
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