s.

"These jewels would have been given to the owner the instant they
were called for, monsieur, and I am surprised that your brother never
reclaimed them."

Louis betrayed his astonishment at the sight of the jewels. He tried to
cover his embarrassment by boldly saying:

"I was told not to mention this sacred trust."

Mme. Fauvel, without making any reply, laid her hand on the bell-rope
and quietly said:

"You will allow me to end this interview, monsieur, which was only
granted for the purpose of placing in your hands these precious jewels."

Thus dismissed, M. de Clameran was obliged to take his leave without
attaining his object.

"As you will, madame," he said, "I leave you; but before doing so I
must tell you the rest of my brother's dying injunctions: 'If Valentine
disregards the past, and refuses to provide for our son, I enjoin it
upon you to compel her to do her duty.' Meditate upon these words,
madame, for what I have sworn to do, upon my honor, shall be done!"

At last Mme. Fauvel was alone. She could give vent to her despair.

Exhausted at her efforts at self-restraint during the presence of
Clameran, she felt weary and crushed in body and spirit.

She had scarcely strength to drag herself up to her chamber, and lock
the door.

Now there was no room for doubt; her fears had become realities. She
could fathom the abyss into which she was about to be hurled, and knew
that in her fall she would drag her family with her.

God alone, in this hour of danger, could help her, could save her from
destruction. She prayed.

"Oh, my God!" she cried, "punish me for my great sin, and I will
evermore adore thy chastising hand! I have been a bad daughter, an
unworthy mother, and a perfidious wife. Smite me, oh, God, and only me!
In thy just anger spare the innocent, have pity upon my husband and my
children!"

What were her twenty years of happiness compared to this hour of misery?
A bitter remorse; nothing more. Ah, why did she listen to her mother?
Why had she committed moral suicide?

Hope had fled; despair had come.

This man who had left her presence with a threat upon his lips would
return to torture her now. How could she escape him?

To-day she had succeeded in subduing her heart and conscience; would she
again have the strength to master her feelings?

She well knew that her calmness and courage were entirely due to the
inaptness of Clameran.

Why did he not use entreaties instead of threa