walked along. Presently there was a clear place on the sidewalk; and from the crowd going before us—God forbid me from saying falsely!—what do you think I saw emerge? [She stares sharply into their faces.] Monsieur, Madame! what do you think I saw?"
"Irène!" cried Monsieur, "what does all this mean? What are you talking about?"
"Child," said Madame, going toward her, frightened at her actions.
"No, no, sit down. You think I am beside myself. But listen! As sure as it is now night, and we are three, I saw emerge from the darkness of that crowd, and look into my very eyes—Madeline! Madeline!"
Madame fell to weeping bitterly; and Monsieur, leading Irène to a seat, said; "You would do better not to excite yourself further. It was some one else you saw. Your imagination deceived you. We shall not talk of these things again."
"I thought you would say something like that, Monsieur. I thought you would say that I was dreaming, and that I had lost my mind. Do you think that I do
