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flower…pots； the iron railing had been taken away； and two men were
turning up the soil。
Armand leaned against a tree and watched。 All his life seemed to pass
before his eyes。 Suddenly one of the two pickaxes struck against a stone。
At the sound Armand recoiled； as at an electric shock； and seized my hand
with such force as to give me pain。
One of the grave…diggers took a shovel and began emptying out the
earth； then； when only the stones covering the coffin were left； he threw
them out one by one。
I scrutinized Armand； for every moment I was afraid lest the emotions
which he was visibly repressing should prove too much for him； but he
still watched； his eyes fixed and wide open； like the eyes of a madman；
and a slight trembling of the cheeks and lips were the only signs of the
violent nervous crisis under which he was suffering。
As for me； all I can say is that I regretted having come。
When the coffin was uncovered the inspector said to the grave…digger：
〃Open it。〃 They obeyed； as if it were the most natural thing in the world。
The coffin was of oak； and they began to unscrew the lid。 The
humidity of the earth had rusted the screws； and it was not without some
difficulty that the coffin was opened。 A painful odour arose in spite of the
aromatic plants with which it was covered。
〃O my God； my God！〃 murmured Armand； and turned paler than
before。
Even the grave…digger drew back。
A great white shroud covered the corpse； closely outlining some of its
contours。 This shroud was almost completely eaten away at one end； and
left one of the feet visible。
I was nearly fainting； and at the moment of writing these lines I see the
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whole scene over again in all its imposing reality。
〃Quick；〃 said the inspector。 Thereupon one of the men put out his hand；
began to unsew the shroud； and taking hold of it by one end suddenly laid
bare the face of Marguerite。
It was terrible to see； it is horrible to relate。 The eyes were nothing but
two holes； the lips had disappeared； vanished； and the white teeth were
tightly set。 The black hair； long and dry； was pressed tightly about the
forehead； and half veiled the green hollows of the cheeks； and yet I
recognised in this face the joyous white and rose face that I had seen so
often。
Armand； unable to turn away his eyes； had put the handkerchief to his
mouth and bit it。
For my part； it was as if a circle of iron tightened about my head； a veil
covered my eyes； a rumbling filled my ears； and all I could do was to
unstop a smelling bottle which I happened to have with me； and to draw in
long breaths of it。
Through this bewilderment I heard the inspector say to Duval； 〃Do
you identify？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied the young man in a dull voice。
〃Then fasten it up and take it away；〃 said the inspector。
The grave…diggers put back the shroud over the face of the corpse；
fastened up the coffin； took hold of each end of it； and began to carry it
toward the place where they had been told to take it。
Armand did not move。 His eyes were fixed upon the empty grave； he
was as white as the corpse which we had just seen。 He looked as if he had
been turned to stone。
I saw what was coming as soon as the pain caused by the spectacle
should have abated and thus ceased to sustain him。 I went up to the
inspector。 〃Is this gentleman's presence still necessary？〃 I said； pointing to
Armand。
〃No；〃 he replied； 〃and I should advise you to take him away。 He looks
ill。〃
〃Come；〃 I said to Armand； taking him by the arm。
〃What？〃 he said； looking at me as if he did not recognise me。
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〃It is all over；〃 I added。 〃You must come； my friend； you are quite
white； you are cold。 These emotions will be too much for you。〃
〃You are right。 Let us go；〃 he answered mechanically； but without
moving a step。
I took him by the arm and led him along。 He let himself be guided like
a child； only from time to time murmuring； 〃Did you see her eyes？〃 and he
turned as if the vision had recalled her。
Nevertheless； his steps became more irregular； he seemed to walk by a
series of jerks； his teeth chattered； his hands were cold； a violent agitation
ran through his body。 I spoke to him； he did not answer。 He was just able
to let himself be led along。 A cab was waiting at the gate。 It was only just
in time。 Scarcely had he seated himself； when the shivering became more
violent； and he had an actual attack of nerves； in the midst of which his
fear of frightening me made him press my hand and whisper： 〃It is nothing；
nothing。 I want to weep。〃
His chest laboured； his eyes were injected with blood； but no tears
came。 I made him smell the salts which I had with me； and when we
reached his house only the shivering remained。
With the help of his servant I put him to bed； lit a big fire in his room；
and hurried off to my doctor； to whom I told all that had happened。 He
hastened with me。
Armand was flushed and delirious； he stammered out disconnected
words； in which only the name of Marguerite could be distinctly heard。
〃Well？〃 I said to the doctor when he had examined the patient。
〃Well； he has neither more nor less than brain fever； and very lucky it
is for him； for I firmly believe （God forgive me！） that he would have gone
out of his mind。 Fortunately； the physical malady will kill the mental one；
and in a month's time he will be free from the one and perhaps from the
other。〃
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CHAPTER 7
Illnesses like Armand's have one fortunate thing about them： they
either kill outright or are very soon overcome。 A fortnight after the events
which I have just related Armand was convalescent； and we had already
become great friends。 During the whole course of his illness I had hardly
left his side。
Spring was profuse in its flowers； its leaves； its birds； its songs； and
my friend's window opened gaily upon his garden； from which a revivin