She　said　yes；　and　presently　added；　〃My　son　has　now　a　great　trouble；　but　I　am　going　to　relieve　him　of　it。〃
  The　woman；　startled；　stared　at　her。
  〃Is　it　not　right　for　me　to　rid　him　of　it？〃　she　demanded　loudly。
  〃Mais　oui；　certainement〃　said　the　Swiss。　　She　watched　Frances　after　that　furtively。　　Her　eyes；　she　thought；　were　quite　sane。　　But　how　eccentric　all　of　these　Americans　were！
  Mrs。　Waldeaux　reached　Vannes　at　nightfall。　　At　last！　　Here　was　the　place　in　this　great　empty　world　where　he　was。
  When　the　diligence　entered　the　courtyard；　George　was　so　near　to　the　gate　that　the　smoke　of　his　cigar　was　blown　into　her　face；　but　he　did　not　see　her。　　He　was　lean　and　pale；　and　his　eyes　told　his　misery。　　When　she　saw　them　his　mother　grew　sick　from　head　to　foot　with　a　sudden　nausea。　　This　was　his　wife's　doing。　　She　was　killing　him！　　Frances　hurried　into　the　inn；　her　legs　giving　way　under　her。　　She　could　not　speak　to　him。　　She　must　think　what　to　do。
  She　was　taken　to　her　room。　　It　was　dark；　and　across　the　corridor　she　saw　Lisa　in　her　lighted　chamber。　　This　was　good　luck！　　God　had　put　the　creature　at　once　into　her　hands　to　deal　with！
  She　was　conscious　of　a　strange　exaltation；　as　if　from　wineas　if　she　would　never　need　to　sleep　nor　eat　again。　　Her　thoughts　came　and　went　like　flashes　of　fire。　　She　watched　Lisa　as　she　would　a　vampire；　a　creeping　deadly　beast。　　Pauline　Felixall　that　was　adulterous　and　vile　in　womenthere　it　was！
  Her　mind　too；　as　never　before；　was　full　of　a　haughty　complacency　in　herself。　　She　felt　like　the　member　of　some　petty　sect　who　is　sure　that　God　communes　with　him　inside　of　his　altar　rails；　while　the　man　is　outside　whom　he　believes　that　God　made　only　to　be　damned。
  Lisa　began　to　undress。　　Frances　quickly　turned　away；　ashamed　of　peeping　into　her　chamber。　　But　the　one　fact　burned　on　into　her　brain：
  The　woman　was　killing　George。
  If　God　would　rid　the　world　of　her！　　If　a　storm　should　rise　now；　and　the　lightning　strike　the　house；　and　these　stone　walls　should　fall　on　her；　nownow！
  But　the　walls　stood　firm　and　the　moonlight　shone　tranquilly　on　the　world　outside。
  She　told　herself　to　be　calmto　be　just。　　But　there　was　no　justice　while　this　woman　went　on　with　her　work！　God　saw。　　He　meant　her　to　be　stopped。　　Frances　prayed　to　him　frantically　that　Lisa　might　soon　be　put　off　of　the　earth。　　Just　as　the　Catholic　used　to　pray　before　he　massacred　the　Huguenot；　or　the　Protestant；　when　he　tied　his　Catholic　brother　to　the　stake。　　If　this　woman　was　mad　for　blood；　it　was　a　madness　that　many　sincere　people　have　shared。
  Colette　was　busy　with　her　mistress　for　a　long　time。　　She　was　very　gentle　and　tender；　being　fond　of　Lisa；　as　people　of　her　class　always　were。　　She　raised　her　voice　as　she　made　ready　to　leave　the　room。
  〃If　the　pain　returns；　here　is　the　powder　of　morphia；　mixed；　within　madame's　reach；〃　she　said。
  Frances　came　close　to　the　door。
  〃And　if　it　continues？〃　asked　Lisa。
  〃Let　monsieur　call　me。　　I　would　not　trust　him　to　measure　a　powder；〃　Colette　said；　laughing。　　〃It　is　too　dangerous。　　He　is　not　used　to　itlike　me。〃
  Mrs。　Waldeaux　saw　her　lay　a　paper　package　on　a　shelf。
  〃I　will　pray　that　the　pain　will　not　return；〃　the　girl　said。　　〃But　if　it　does；　let　monsieur　knock　at　my　door。　　Here　is　the　tisane　when　you　are　thirsty。〃　　She　placed　a　goblet　of　milky　liquid　near　the　bed。
  What　more　she　said　Frances　did　not　hear。
  It　was　to　be！　　There　was　the　morphia；　and　yonder　the　night　drink　within　her　reach。　　It　was　God's　will。
  Colette　turned　out　the　lamp；　hesitated；　and　sat　down　by　the　fire。　　Presently　she　rose　softly；　bent　over　her　mistress；　and；　finding　her　asleep；　left　the　room　noiselessly。　　Her　door　closed　far　down　the　corridor。
  Mrs。　Waldeaux　was　quite　alone；　now。
  It　was　but　a　step　across　the　hall。　　So　easy　to　doeasy。　　It　must　be　done　at　once。
  But　her　feet　were　like　lead；　she　could　not　move；　her　tongue　lay　icy　cold　in　her　mouth。　　Her　soul　was　willing；　but　her　body　rebelled。
  What　folly　was　this？　　It　was　the　work　of　a　moment。　　George　would　be　free。　　She　would　have　freed　him。
  In　God's　name　then
  She　crossed　the　hall　softly。　　Into　the　hell　of　her　thoughts　flashed　a　little　womanish　shame；　that　she；　Frances　Waldeaux；　should　be　walking　on　tiptoe；　like　a　thief。
  She　took　down　the　package；　and　leaning　over　the　table　at　the　side　of　the　bed；　shook　the　white　powder　into　the　glass。　　Then　she　went　back　to　her　room　and　shut　the　door。
  The　casement　was　open　and　the　moonlight　was　white　outside。　　She　was　conscious　that　the　glare　hurt　her　eyes；　and　that　there　was　a　strange　stricture　about　her　jaws　and　the　base　of　her　brain；　like　an　iron　hand。
  It　seemed　to　her　but　a　minute　that　she　stood　there；　but　the　dawn　was　breaking　when　there　was　a　sudden　confusion　in　the　opposite　room。　　She　heard　Colette's　voice；　and　then　George's；　calling　Lisa。
  There　was　no　answer。
  Frances　stood　up；　to　listen。　　〃Will　she　not　speak？〃　she　cried。　　〃Make　her　speak！〃
  But　in　reality　she　said　nothing。　　Even　her　breath　had　stopped　to　listen。
  There　was　no　answer。
  Frances　was　awake　now；　for　the　rest　of　her　life。　　She　knew　what　she　had　done。
  〃Why；　George；〃　she　said；　〃she　cannot　speak。　　She　is　dead。　　I　did　it。〃
  She　stood　in　the　room　a　minute；　looking　from　side　to　side；　and　then　went　with　measured　steps　out　of　it；　down　the　corridor　and　into　the　street。
  〃I　did　it；〃　she　said　to　herself　again　and　again；　as　she　walked　slowly　on。
  The　old　cathedral　is　opposite　to　the　inn。　　Her　eyes；　as　she　passed；　rested　on　the　gargoyles；　and　she　thought　how　fine　they　were。　　One　was　a　ridiculous　head　with　lolling　tongue。
  A　priest's　voice　inside　was　chanting　mass。　　A　dozen　Breton　women　in　their　huge　white　winged　caps　and　wooden　shoes　hurried　up　to　the　door；　through　the　gray　fog。　　They　met　Mrs。　Waldeaux　and　saw　her　face。　　They　huddled　to　one　side；　crossing　themselves；　and　when　she　passed；　stood　still；　forgetting　the　mass　and　looking；　frightened；　up　the　steep　street　behind　her　to　find　what　horror　had　pursued　her。
  〃They　know　what　I　have　done；〃　she　said　aloud。
  Once　when　she　was　a　child　she　had　accidentally　seen　a　bloated　wretch；　a　murderer；　on　his　way　to　the　gallows。
  〃I　am　he；〃　she　thought。　　〃I_I_；　Frances。〃
  Then　the　gargoyle　came　into　her　mind　again。　　What　a　capital　headpiece　it　would　make　for　〃Quigg's〃　next　column！　　It　was　time　this　week's　jokes　were　sent。
  But　at　last　these　ghosts　of　yesterday's　life　faded　out；　and　she　saw　the　fact。
  She　had　hated　her　son's　wife　and　had　killed　her！
  CHAPTER　XV
  When　the　sun　was　well　up　the　women　who　had　been　at　mass　gathered　down　by　the　little　river　which　runs　through　the　old　city；　to　wash　their　clothes。　　They　knelt　on　the　broad　stones　by　the　edge　of　the　water；　chattering　and　singing；　tossing　the　soap　from　one　to　another。
  There　was　a　sudden　silence。　　〃Here　she　is　again；〃　they　whispered；　as　a　slight；　delicate　woman　crossed　the　bridge　with　steady　steps。
  〃She　is　blind　and　deaf；〃　said　old　Barbe。　　〃I　met　her　an　hour　ago　and　asked　her　whom　she　sought。　　She　did　not　see　nor　hear　me；　but　walked　straight　on。〃
  Oliver　Bauzy　was　lounging　near；　as　usual；　watching　his　wife　work。
  〃She　is　English。　　What　does　she　know　of　your　Breton　talk？　　I　speak　English　and　FrenchI！〃　he　bragged；　　and　walking　up　to　Mrs。　Waldeaux；　he　flourished　his　ragged　hat；　smiling。　　〃Is　madame　ill？　　She　has　walked　far；〃　he　said　kindly。
  The　English　words　seemed　to　waken　her。　　〃It　is　always　the　town；〃　looking　around　bewildered。　　〃The　peoplehouses。　　I　think　I　am　not　well。　　If　I　could　find　the　woods〃
  Bauzy　had　but　a　hazy　idea　of　her　meaning；　but　he　nodded　gravely。　　〃She　is　a　tourist。　　She　wants　to　go　out　of　Vannesto　see　the　chateaux；　the　dolmens。　　I'm　her　man。　　I'll　drive　her　to　Larmor　Baden；〃　he　said　to　his　wife。　　〃I　have　to　go　there　to…day；　and　I　may　as　well　make　a　franc　or　two。　　Keep　her　until　I　bring　the　voiture。〃
  But　Frances　stood　motionless　until　the　old　wagon　rattled　up　to　the　water's　edge。
  〃She　has　a　dear　old　face；〃　Bauzy's　wife　whispered。
  〃She　is　blind　and　deaf；　I　tell　you；〃　old　Barbe　grumbled；　peering　up　at　her。　　〃Make　her　pay；　Oliver；　before　you　go。〃
  Bauzy　nodded；　and　when　Frances　was　seated　held　out　his　hand。
  〃Twenty　francs；〃　he　said。
  She　opened　her　bag　and　gave　them　to　him。
  〃She　must　be　folle！〃　he　said　uneasily。　　〃I　feel　like　a　thief。　　Away　with　you；　Babette！〃　as　a　pretty　baby　ran　up　to　him。　　〃You　want　to　ride？　　That　is　impossible。　　Unless；　indeed；　madame　desires　it？〃　lifting　the　child　to　place　her　on　the　seat。　　Babette　laughed　and　held　out　her　hands。
  But　Mrs。　Waldeaux　shrank　back；　shuddering。　　〃Take　her　away；〃　she　whispered。　　〃She　must　not　touch　me！〃
  The　mother　seized　the　child；　and　the　women　all　talked　vehemently　at　once。　　Oliver　climbed　into　the　voiture　and　drove　off　in　silence。　　When　he　looked　around　presently　he　saw　that　the　woman's　face　was　bloodless；　and　a　cold　sweat　stood　on　it。　He　considered　a　while。　　〃You　want　food；〃　he　said；　and　brought　out　some　hard　bread　and　a　jug　of　Normandy　cider。
  Frances　shook　her　head。　　She　only　spoke　once　during　the　morning；　and　then　told　him　something　about　a　woman　〃whom　no　child　could　touch。　　No　man　or　woman　could　touch　her　as　long　as　she　lived。　　Not　even　her　son。〃
  As　Bauzy　could　make　nothing　of　this；　he　could　only　nod　and　laugh　civilly。