She paused a moment--then forced
herself to speak again.
"How did it happen?"
In brief, concise words Ruspardi gave the account of the quarrel
with Miraudin,--and Sylvie shrank back as though she had received a
blow when she heard that her name had been the cause of the dispute.
"And this morning, hearing no news," continued Ruspardi, "I made
enquiries at the theatre. There I found everything in confusion;
Miraudin and a soubrette named Jeanne Richaud, had left Rome the
previous evening so the box-keeper said, and there was no news of
either of them beyond a note from the girl saying she had returned
alone to Paris by the first morning train. Nothing had been heard of
Miraudin himself;--I therefore, knowing all the circumstances, drove
out to the Campagna by the Porte Pia, the way that Miraudin had
gone, and the way I bade the Marquis follow;--but on the Ponte
Nomentano I met some of the Miserecordia carrying two corpses on the
same bier,--two corpses so strangely alike that they might almost
have been brothers!--they were the bodies of the Marquis Fontenelle
and,--Miraudin!"
Sylvie uttered a low cry and covered her face with her hands.
"Miraudin!" exclaimed Madame Bozier in horrified tones.
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