If M. de Bois offered any counsel (which his guest pretended to imagine
he did), the impediment in his speech increased to such an extent that
his suggestions were unintelligible. His perturbation might have passed
for surprise at the startling intelligence so abruptly communicated;
but it could hardly be translated into sorrow or sympathy, and was a
very imperfect simulation of astonishment.

"I am going to Rennes, for the purpose of making inquiries at the
railroad depot. Will not that plan be a good one?" asked the count.

"Ver--ver--ery good," stammered M. de Bois.

"Can you think of any mode that will facilitate my search?"

"I fear not,--none at all; I am very dull in such m--m--matters."

The count took his leave, congratulating himself that his neighbor had
not been subjected to the scrutiny of the Countess de Gramont or Bertha,
and especially of Maurice, whose absence at this crisis he looked upon
as doubly fortunate.

Count Tristan returned to the chateau with as dejected a mien as he
could assume.

Bertha was watching at the window, and ran out to meet him. "What news?
When did M. de Bois lose his handkerchief? When did he last see
Madeleine?"

"Dear child, I am deeply pained not to bring more cheering information.
M. de Bois must have dropped his handkerchief some days ago,--the
morning after the ball; he has not been here since; he has no
recollection of the circumstance; he has not seen Madeleine at all."

"Was he not amazed to hear that she had gone?"

"Very much confounded; the shock quite bewildered him. We consulted
about the best means of tracing her at Rennes. You may rest assured that
M. de Bois was totally ignorant of her intention to leave us. And, if
you will allow me to make a suggestion, I would charge you not to let
him suspect, when you meet, that you for a moment imagine he was in
Madeleine's confidence. It would be highly indelicate,--the very
supposition would be derogatory to her dignity. _I_ have said all that
was necessary to him, and, as he had nothing to do with the affair, it
is a topic which cannot with propriety be touched upon again."

"Assuredly not," coincided the countess. "Madeleine, with all her
faults, would not so entirely forget her own self-respect as to have a
clandestine understanding with a young man. I cannot believe she would
disgrace herself and us by such unmaidenly conduct."

"Unmaidenly! Would it be unmaidenly?" questioned Bertha, innocently. "If