"Did she not bid you adieu, then?" asked Bertha.

"Just as I was stooping to lift the trunk, Mademoiselle Madeleine
stretched out her hand and took mine. I felt her warm, soft touch the
whole day after. She did not say adieu, but she looked it. She looked as
though she were blessing me and thanking me. I never saw a face that
said so much,--so much that went to my very soul and comforted me! When
she let go my hand, I took up the trunk and carried it out. She closed
the door behind me without a sound, and I brought the trunk here that
night and left it. That is all I know, monsieur."

"But how was the trunk conveyed hence?"

"I do not know, monsieur."

"Did you see Mademoiselle Madeleine the next morning?" inquired Bertha.

"No, mademoiselle. I could not help going to the _chalet_ the first
thing when I came out to work. I pushed the door open and looked in; the
trunk was not there, and I knew that Mademoiselle Madeleine was gone
too!"

"But did not Mademoiselle Madeleine drop some hint, even the faintest,
of her plans?" asked Maurice, earnestly.

"I have told monsieur every word Mademoiselle Madeleine spoke to me on
the subject."

"_Some one_ must have aided her further! Who could it be? _Who could it
possibly be?_" mused Maurice.

Baptiste was certain he knew who alone it could be; and he was pondering
within himself whether he had the right to mention the note Madeleine
had ordered him to deliver to M. de Bois. Her request had been that he
would give no information he could honestly avoid; if it _could_ be
avoided, it was plain, then, that the intelligence ought not to be
communicated.

"Has monsieur done with me?" he asked, as Maurice stood reflecting in
silence.

"Yes, if you have nothing further to tell me."

"Nothing further, monsieur." Saying these words, Baptiste withdrew.

"After Madeleine was missed," said Bertha, when the old gardener was
gone, "I was the first person who came to the _chalet_. I found a
handkerchief lying just by this table. It was marked G. de Bois."

"Gaston de Bois! Then it is clear _he_ was Madeleine's confidant. He
promoted her flight!"

"So I thought, at first," rejoined Bertha; "but it seems this is not so.
Your father took him the handkerchief, and he could not tell when or
where he had lost it. He was amazed to hear that Madeleine had left us,
and disclaimed all knowledge concerning her."

"Who, then, could it have been? But I will see M. de Bois myself."

"Fir