him; Madame de Montrevel, when the
diligence was stopped, and she, in her nervous struggle, had struck off
the mask of the leader.

Both had been summoned before the preliminary court and both had been
confronted with the prisoners; but neither Sir John nor Madame de
Montrevel had recognized any of them. How came they to practice this
deception? As for Madame de Montrevel, it was comprehensible. She felt a
double gratitude to the man who had come to her assistance, and who had
also forgiven, and even praised, Edouard's attack upon himself. But
Sir John's silence was more difficult to explain, for among the four
prisoners he must have recognized at least two of his assailants.

They had recognized him, and a certain quiver had run through their
veins as they did so, but their eyes were none the less resolutely fixed
upon him, when, to their great astonishment, Sir John, in spite of the
judge's insistence, had calmly replied: "I have not the honor of knowing
these gentlemen."

Amelie--we have not spoken of her, for there are sorrows no pen can
depict--Amelie, pale, feverish, almost expiring since that fatal night
when Morgan was arrested, awaited the return of her mother and Sir
John from the preliminary trial with dreadful anxiety. Sir John arrived
first. Madame de Montrevel had remained behind to give some orders to
Michel. As soon as Amelie saw him she rushed forward, crying out: "What
happened?"

Sir John looked behind him, to make sure that Madame de Montrevel could
neither see nor hear him, then he said: "Your mother and I recognized no
one."

"Ah! how noble you are I how generous! how good, my lord!" cried the
young girl, trying to kiss his hand.

But he, withdrawing his hand, said hastily: "I have only done as I
promised you; but hush--here is your mother."

Amelie stepped back. "Ah, mamma!" she said, "so you did not say anything
to compromise those unfortunate men?"

"What!" replied Madame de Montrevel; "would you have me send to the
scaffold a man who had helped me, and who, instead of punishing Edouard,
kissed him?"

"And yet," said Amelie, trembling, "you recognized him, did you not?"

"Perfectly," replied Madame de Montrevel. "He is the fair man with the
black eyebrows who calls himself the Baron de Sainte-Hermine."

Amelie gave a stifled cry. Then, making an effort to control herself,
she said: "Is that the end of it for Sir John and you? Will you be
called to testify again?"

"Probably not,