“Clear, sir,” replies Joey, with a gracious grin.  “I’m clearer altogether, sir, for having lived so many weeks upon the surface.  I never was half so long upon the surface afore, and it’s done me a power of good.  At Cripple Corner, I was too much below it.  Atop of the Simpleton, I was a deal too high above it.  I’ve found the medium here, sir.  And if ever I take it in convivial, in all the rest of my days, I mean to do it this day, to the toast of ’Bless ’em both.’”

“I, too!” says Bintrey.  “And now, Monsieur Voigt, let you and me be two men of Marseilles, and allons, marchons, arm-in-arm!”

They go down to the door, where others are waiting for them, and they go quietly to the church, and the happy marriage takes place.  While the ceremony is yet in progress, the notary is called out.  When it is finished, he has returned, is standing behind Vendale, and touches him on the shoulder.

“Go to the side door, one moment, Monsieur Vendale.  Alone.  Leave Madame to me.”

At the side door of the church, are the same two men from the Hospice.  They are snow-stained and travel-worn.  They wish him joy, and then each lays his broad hand upon Vendale’s breast, and one says in a low voice, while the other steadfastly regards him: 

“It is here, Monsieur.  Your litter.  The very same.”

“My litter is here?  Why?”

“Hush!  For the sake of Madame.  Your companion of that day—­”

“What of him?”

The man looks at his comrade, and his comrade takes him up.  Each keeps his hand laid earnestly on Vendale’s breast.

“He had been living at the first Refuge, monsieur, for some days.  The weather was now good, now bad.”

“Yes?”

“He arrived at our Hospice the day before yesterday, and, having refreshed himself with sleep on the floor before the fire, wrapped in his cloak, was resolute to go on, before dark, to the next Hospice.  He had a great fear of that part of the way, and thought it would be worse to-morrow.”

“Yes?”

“He went on alone.  He had passed the gallery when an avalanche—­like that which fell behind you near the Bridge of the Ganther—­”

“Killed him?”

“We dug him out, suffocated and broken all to pieces!  But, monsieur, as to Madame.  We have brought him here on the litter, to be buried.  We must ascend the street outside.  Madame must not see.  It would be an accursed thing to bring the litter through the arch across the street, until Madame has passed through.  As you descend, we who accompany the litter will set it down on the stones of the street the second to the right, and will stand before it.  But do not let Madame turn her head towards the street the second to the right.  There is no time to lose.  Madame will be alarmed by your absence.  Adieu!”