Alas! … She is no more! … Oh, to what a dreadful sight have I been witness! … It is the unfortunate Mons. d’ Aimeri, it is he alone, who is at this time to be pitied! … Ah! if for one fault, though in truth an irreparable one, yet expiated by ten years repentance, Heaven punishes with such severity; what is there which unnatural parents have not to fear, who seek to blind themselves on the heinous crime of their injustice? … My mind is so taken up with what I have this day seen; my heart is so much affected by it, that I can speak of nothing else; hear then this melancholy recital, it shall be faithful and true; and it appears to me, that I am too much affected not to communicate to you a part of those deep impressions which I have received myself. I came to Madame de Valmont's to-day at dinner time. I found all the family in great consternation, and they told me Cecilia had been so ill in the night, that they had sent for the Physician; that she had received the Sacrament; but that at present she was better, and that she had just got up. I went into her chamber; she was seated on a sopha between her father and sister, and the Physician was offering her a medicine. As soon as I appeared, Madame de Valmont came to me, and said, with an air of satisfaction which shocked me, she has had a dreadful crisis, but is better; she is surprisingly better now. At these words, I cast my eyes on the Physician, as if to know his opinion: and he gave me a look which made me tremble. My heart beat in such a manner, I was obliged to sit down … At this moment Mons. d’ Aimeri began to speak; certainly, said he, as she has had the strength to go through the crisis of this night, we have all the reason to believe, that she is now entirely out of danger.