O, my daughter, what an event! … This unfortunate Mons. d’ Aimeri … Yet I believe his disease is not mortal: the Physicians give hopes; but he has such fatal forebodings, he sustained so cruel a shock! … Yesterday, Monday, the day fixed for signing the articles, we all assembled at the Viscountess's: Monsieur d’ Aimeri had a slight attack of the gout on Sunday. We had not finished our business above a quarter of an hour, when a servant whispered Madame de Valmont, that a person desired to speak to her on an affair of great importance. She turned pale, and desired the man might be conducted into the Viscountess's closet. She then rose, and communicated her suspicions to me. I recommended shutting herself up in the closet, and she went out directly. Monsieur d’ Aimeri, having observed her trouble and agitation, was questioning me anxiously, when all at once we were alarmed by the sound of an unknown voice, crying aloud, Help, help. I attempted in vain to detain Monsieur d’ Aimeri; he burst from me; the Viscountess, Mons. de Valmont, and myself followed him; we met a man in deep mourning, who told us, that Madame de Valmont had fallen down in dreadful convulsions … Monsieur d’ Aimeri quickened his pace; we entered the closet; I got before him, saying, For Heaven's sake go; in the name of Friendship, I intreat you to absent yourself for a moment … I would have forced him, but he pushed me away, and advancing, saw Madame de Valmont in a fit by a table, on which stood a box half open … He flew towards his daughter, caught her in his arms; he raised her up. At that moment a parcel slipped from under her gown to the ground … He made a false step, he staggered, recovered himself as he was falling; cast his eyes on the floor … Heavens! what an object struck him! the wretched man trod under his feet the hair of the unfortunate Cecilia.