"I am thinking of last night at the farm,--the fire."
"But," continued Paul, "how did we get back here?"
"In the carriage. Father came for us and brought us home."
Monsieur Roger followed with rapt attention the workings of Paul's memory. He was waiting in burning anxiety the moment when Paul should remember. One principal fact, only one thing occupied his attention. Would Paul remember how and by whom he had been borne from the torpor which was strangling him? Would he remember that cry,--that name which had had the miraculous power to awake him, to bring him back to life? If Paul remembered that, then, perhaps---- And again Monsieur Roger was a prey to his fixed idea,--to his stroke of folly, as Monsieur Dalize called it.
The latter, besides, knew nothing as yet, and Monsieur Roger counted upon the sudden revelation of this extraordinary fact to shake his conviction. But Paul had repeated his question. He asked,--
"How did we leave the farm-house? How were we saved?"
And as Albert did not know whether he should speak, whether he should tell everything, Paul continued:
"But speak, explain to me: I am trying to find out. I cannot remember; and that gives me pain here." And he touched his head.
Monsieur Roger made a sign to Albert, and the latter spoke:
"Well, do you remember the turret, where we had our rooms? You slept above, I below. Do you remember the trap-door that I showed you? In the middle of the night I felt myself awakened by somebody, and I followed him. In my half sleep I thought that this some one was you, my poor friend; but, alas! you remained above; you were sleeping without fear. Why, it was Monsieur Roger who first saw the danger that you were in."
Paul, while Albert was speaking, had bent his head, seeking in his memory and beginning to put in order his scattered thoughts. When Albert pronounced the name of Monsieur Roger, Paul raised his eyes towards him with a look which showed that he would soon remember.
"And afterwards Monsieur Roger climbed upon the roof, at the risk of his life, and reached the loop-hole which opened into your chamber. He broke the glass of the window; but you did not hear him: the smoke which was issuing through the floor had made you insensible,--had almost asphyxiated you."