Page:The Mystery of Madeline Le Blanc (1900).djvu/95

Rh this that runs so madly?" she cried, looking into the garden. "Joseph comes hastening down the path. See, we mistake !"

"In an instant he was in the house, calling, "Monsieur! Madame!"

"Here, here," they answered, coming to him, followed by Irène from the side room,

"She is gone!" cried Joseph; and for a moment the four stood like stone, staring into one another's faces. Madame sank into a chair, Monsieur and Joseph were speechless, Irène alone was self-possessed.

"En route tout le monde pour Paris," she called, with joy in her voice. "Madeline still lives!"

At nightfall while the strange news was being told under every roof in the town, Monsieur Le Blanc, Joseph and Irène were approaching Paris.

"See the lights," cried the girl, as their eyes discerned the first glimmer of the city.."What is that humming noise?"

"That is everything—wagons, voices,