arded. Yet there she was, a
dainty thing in white. White of dress, white of face, white of spirit.

In frightened tones of far-away sweetness, her voice mingled with the
air, so low, so melodious one could scarce determine when she commenced
to speak.

"Monsieur, quick, listen. You are in danger. I was in Madame de
Chartrain's chamber and overheard. You have letters. M. de Greville
will take them from you--for her sake--they compromise her. There is
other danger," she spoke breathlessly on, "other more deadly danger
lurking for you here; I beseech you to leave--at once. M. de Greville
will take those letters from you by force or guile. Oh, tarry not,
there has been so much of blood, and this place so seeming fair; the
assassin, the poison and prison houses."

The eloquence of fear trembled in her words. Half starting forward I
drank in every syllable, not for the warning she would fain convey, but
for their sweetness. All I could realize for the moment was that she
had sought me, sought me freely. Then she was gone. Swiftly,
noiselessly as she came, she disappeared. The distant flutter of her
skirts among the sombre trees marked the path she went. Through it all
I spoke no word, returning, as one who has received an angel's visit,
to my reverie.

I was not suffered long to spend my time alone. The old beau, de
Virelle, in his bluff and hearty way directed the attention of a party
of ladies who were with him to where I hung over a marble balustrade
enraptured at the broad expanse of valley, rosy tinted with the hues of
ebbing light, boundless as the dim horizon of my own sweet dreams.

"By my faith, Captain, you should have heard the clamor over your
departure. Already famous, and so soon weary of your laurels. Ah! a
tryst," he exclaimed. "Verily you do better than I thought," for he
had picked up a muslin handkerchief, edged with lace, which sought in
vain to hide itself among the leaves. So busied had I been it escaped
my notice. Instinctively I reclaimed the prize and with no gentle hand
I doubt, for his touch and jeering manner desecrated the sacred relic
of my vanished saint.

De Virelle scowled somewhat at my precipitation, but, meeting a no less
determined air, passed the matter by. His ladies affected not to see.
They in their turn plied me with inquiries about the savages in
America, asked all manner of silly questions, and completed with their
foolish simperings the disgust I alread