Themonkcamebackmorequicklythathewent，sothatthehorsediedunderhiminthecourtyard。HerushedintotheroomwhereBertha，believingherlasthourtobecome，waskissingherson，andwrithinglikealizardinthefire，utteringnocryforherself，butforthechild，lefttothewrathofBastarnay，forgettingherownagonyatthethoughtofhiscruelfuture。
“Takethis，“saidthemonk；“mylifeissaved！”
Jehanhadthegreatcouragetosaythesewordswithanunmovedface，althoughhefelttheclawsofdeathseizinghisheart。HardlyhadBerthadrunkwhenthepriorfelldead，not，however，withoutkissinghisson，andregardinghisdearladywithaneyethatchangednotevenafterhislastsigh。Thissightturnedherascoldasmarble，andterrifiedhersomuchthatsheremainedrigidbeforethisdeadman，stretchedatherfeet，pressingthehandofherchild，whowept，althoughherowneyewasasdryastheRedSeawhentheHebrewscrosseditundertheleadershipofBaronMoses，foritseemedtoherthatshehadsharpsandrollingunderhereyelids。Prayforher，yecharitablesouls，forneverwaswomansoagonised，indiviningthatherloverhassavedherlifeattheexpenseofhisown。Aidedbyherson，sheherselfplacedthemonkinthemiddleofthebed，andstoodbythesideofit，prayingwiththeboy，whomshethentoldthatthepriorwashistruefather。Inthisstateshewaitedherevilhour，andherevilhourdidnottakelongincoming，fortowardstheeleventhhourBastarnayarrived，andwasinformedattheportcullisthatthemonkwasdead，andnotMadameandthechild，andhesawhisbeautifulSpanishhorselyingdead。Thereupon，seizedwithafuriousdesiretoslayBerthaandthemonk\'sbastard，hesprangupthestairswithonebound；butatthesightofthecorpse，forwhomhiswifeandhersonrepeatedincessantlitanies，havingnoearsforhistorrentofinvective，havingnoeyesforhiswrithingsandthreats，hehadnolongerthecouragetoperpetratethisdarkdeed。Afterthefirstfuryofhisragehadpassed，hecouldnotbringhimselftoit，andquittedtheroomlikeacowardandamantakenincrime，stungtothequickbythoseprayerscontinuouslysaidforthemonk。Thenightwaspassedintears，groans，andprayers。
ByanexpressorderfromMadame，herservanthadbeentoLochestopurchaseforhertheattireofayoungladyofquality，andforherpoorchildahorseandthearmsofanesquire；noticingwhichtheSieurdeBastarnaywasmuchastonished。HesentforMadameandthemonk\'sson，butneithermothernorchildreturnedanyanswer，butquietlyputontheclothespurchasedbytheservant。ByMadame\'sorderthisservantmadeuptheaccountofhereffects，arrangedherclothes，purples，jewels，anddiamonds，asthepropertyofawidowisarrangedwhensherenouncesherrights。Berthaorderedevenheralms-pursebeincluded，inorderthattheceremonymightbeperfect。Thereportofthesepreparationsranthroughthehouse，andeveryoneknewthenthatthemistresswasabouttoleaveit，acircumstancethatfilledeveryheartwithsorrow，eventhatofalittlescullion，whohadonlybeenaweekintheplace，buttowhomMadamehadalreadygivenakindword。
Frightenedatthesepreparations，oldBastarnaycameintoherchamber，andfoundherweepingoverthebodyofJehan，forthetearshadcomeatlast；butshedriedthemdirectlysheperceivedherhusband。Tohisnumerousquestionssherepliedbrieflybytheconfessionofherfault，tellinghimhowshehadbeenduped，howthepoorpagehadbeendistressed，showinghimuponthecorpsethemarkoftheponiardwound；