When, at last, she fully understood the true state
of the case, she went and fetched more candles, which she lighted and
disposed symmetrically about the dead body, and kindly offered to sit up
and watch it with Mme. Leonarde--also to do all that was necessary and
usual for it--adding that she was always sent for in the village when
there was a death, to perform those last, sad offices. All this being
satisfactorily arranged--whereat they were greatly relieved--the weary
travellers were conducted into another room, and food was placed before
them; but the sad scenes just enacted had taken away their appetites,
though it was many long hours since they had eaten. And be it here
recorded that Blazius, for the first time in his life, forgot to drink
his wine, though it was excellent, and left his glass half full. He
could not have given a more convincing proof of the depth and sincerity
of his grief.
Isabelle and Serafina spent the night in an adjoining chamber, sharing
the one small bed it contained, and the men lay down upon bundles
of straw that the stable-boy brought in for them. None of them slept
much--being haunted by disturbing dreams inspired by the sad and trying
events of the previous day--and all were up and stirring at an early
hour, for poor Matamore's burial was to be attended to.
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