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CHAPTER VIII
MADAME V.'S STORY (continued) : TIGHTENING
THE CHAINS
" MY destroyer had been stricken down by the
quantity of wine he had consumed, and it was
only too late I learned it had been drugged.
I opened the window casement and gazed out
over the city of wealth and luxury, of sin,
poverty, and shame.
" Many thoughts raced through my brain,
tumbling over each other. Eirst in my mind
was my baby, and my old home, where I had
known the extremes of happiness and misery !
Then my mother's face came to me ; she,
poor old soul, was waiting with a breaking
heart until God in His mercy would call her
from the world of sorrow.
" Whilst wrapped in these memories a hand
touched me on the shoulder. I was startled.
It was Claude! He had appeared like a
ghost, clad in a long white wrapper, with
slippered feet.
" '
Hush, madame !
'
he exclaimed, '
hush !
he is asleep' pointing to the Count. 'I
saved you from his cruel embraces by drugging
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