the clock strikes three,
and it is but ten minutes of that time, and you have not a weapon with
which to defend yourself.'

"Mamma, you can imagine my feelings at hearing these words, though they
were uttered by a person I could not see, to another person equally
unknown to me? I looked at Cecile and she looked at me, but we could
neither of us move. Every faculty seemed paralyzed save that of
hearing. We held our breaths and listened for the reply. It came
instantly and without a thrill in its clear accents.

"'You are a gentleman, and no common assassin. How can you reconcile
such an act as this with your honor, or with what sophistries quiet the
stings of your conscience when time shall have shown you the sin of so
unprovoked an onslaught?'

"'It is not unprovoked,' was the harsh and bitter reply. 'You promised
to marry Mademoiselle de Fontaine, and yesterday, at three o'clock--ah,
I was there!--you formally renounced your claims. This is an insult that
calls for blood, and blood it shall have. Twenty-four hours have elapsed
less ten minutes, since you cast this slur upon a noble lady's good
name. When the hour is ripe, you will pay the penalty it requires with
your life.'

"'But,' urged his young companion, 'Mademoiselle de Fontaine had herself
requested the breaking off of this contract. I am but following the
lady's behests in withdrawing from a position forced upon us against our
will, and in direct opposition to her happiness.'

"'And by what right do you presume to follow the behests of a lady still
under age? Has she not guardians to consult? Should not I--'

"'You?'

"'Pardon me, I have not introduced myself, it seems. I am the Marquis de
la Roche-Guyon.'"

Honora paused; her mother's exclamation had stopped her:

"The marquis! Oh! Honora, and you have always said he was so good!"

"Wait, mamma; remember it is the cynical voice which is speaking, and
the marquis's voice is not cynical. The words, however, are what I have
told you; 'I am the Marquis de la Roche-Guyon.'

"Of course, not knowing either party, nor this name, least of all
realizing that it was the one by which the gentleman addressed was
himself known, I did not understand why it should create so great an
impression. But that it did was evident, not only from the momentary
hush that followed, but from the violent exclamation that burst from the
young man's lips. 'You scoundrel!' was his cry. But instantly he seemed
to regret the word