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family sought to enliven him； was the reading of newspapers； to which
the political events then occurring gave great interest。 Monsieur
Claes listened attentively as Monsieur de Solis read them aloud beside
his bed。
Towards the close of the year 1832； Balthazar passed an extremely
critical night； during which Monsieur Pierquin； the doctor； was
summoned by the nurse； who was greatly alarmed at the sudden change
which took place in the patient。 For the rest of the night the doctor
remained to watch him； fearing he might at any moment expire in the
throes of inward convulsion； whose effects were like those of a last
agony。
The old man made incredible efforts to shake off the bonds of his
paralysis； he tried to speak and moved his tongue； unable to make a
sound； his flaming eyes emitted thoughts； his drawn features expressed
an untold agony； his fingers writhed in desperation； the sweat stood
out in drops upon his brow。 In the morning when his children came to
his bedside and kissed him with an affection which the sense of coming
death made day by day more ardent and more eager； he showed none of
his usual satisfaction at these signs of their tenderness。 Emmanuel；
instigated by the doctor； hastened to open the newspaper to try if the
usual reading might not relieve the inward crisis in which Balthazar
was evidently struggling。 As he unfolded the sheet he saw the words；
〃DISCOVERY OF THE ABSOLUTE；〃which startled him； and he read a
paragraph to Marguerite concerning a sale made by a celebrated Polish
mathematician of the secret of the Absolute。 Though Emmanuel read in a
low voice； and Marguerite signed to him to omit the passage； Balthazar
heard it。
Suddenly the dying man raised himself by his wrists and cast on his
frightened children a look which struck like lightning； the hairs that
fringed the bald head stirred； the wrinkles quivered； the features
were illumined with spiritual fires； a breath passed across that face
and rendered it sublime； he raised a hand； clenched in fury； and
uttered with a piercing cry the famous word of Archimedes； 〃EUREKA！〃
I have found。
He fell back upon his bed with the dull sound of an inert body； and
died； uttering an awful moan；his convulsed eyes expressing to the
last； when the doctor closed them； the regret of not bequeathing to
Science the secret of an Enigma whose veil was rent away；too late！
by the fleshless fingers of Death。
End