Chapter 5

Then matters were brought to a head by a crisis which came suddenly, though not unexpectedly. One evening the servants summoned their mistress hastily—the baron lay choking and prostrate on a divan near the bathroom door. His distorted features and the anguish in his eyes were indicative of the most acute suffering. Almost paralyzed with fright, Valérie was about to telephone for the doctor, but the baron stammered out the words, “Too late ... it’s ... too ... late....” Then, trying to rise, he gasped out: “A drink…