Page:Mauprat (Heinemann).djvu/215

 in my fancy, and Patience, who was afraid that it might turn to madness, went and very carefully removed a cornelian ring from one of Edmée's fingers and put it on mine. As soon as I felt it there, I carried it to my lips; and then with my arms crossed upon my breast, in the manner of a corpse in a coffin, I fell into a deep sleep.

On the morrow when they tried to take the ring from me I resisted violently, and they abandoned the attempt. I fell asleep again and the abbé removed it during my sleep. But when I opened my eyes I noticed the theft, and once more began to rave. Edmée, who was in the room, ran to me at once and pressed the ring over my finger, at the same time rebuking the abbé. I immediately grew calm, and, gazing on her with lack-lustre eyes, said:

"Is it not true that you are my wife in death as in life?"

"Certainly," she replied. "Set your mind at rest."

"Eternity is long," I said, "and I should like to spend it in recalling your caresses. But I send my thoughts back in vain; they bring me no remembrance of your love."

She leant over and gave me a kiss.

"Edmée, that is very wrong," said the abbé; "such remedies turn to poison."

"Let me do as I like, abbé," she replied, with evident impatience, sitting down near my bed; "I must ask you to let me do as I please."

I fell asleep with one of my hands in hers, repeating at intervals:

"How sweet it is in the grave! Are we not fortunate to be dead?"

During my convalescence Edmée was much more