which induced Irene to leave you and return
to her father. It was I who pointed out to her your great selfishness,
and raised in her the longing for revenge! It was I who laid the plot
into which you fell.

"'"A few words more! It is all so simple! Irene was about to become a
mother; and you, believing her to be on her deathbed, married her. The
child was born on the next day--your son and heir! Meanwhile, Irene's
waiting maid, who had been for long in a consumption, died. It was
her funeral which you attended with such interesting penitence. Irene
herself was fast recovering; she was never in any real danger. She
lives with her old father, and the boy lives with her. We waited! We
read of your marriage, and the Count cried, 'Let us strike!' But I
said, 'No, let us wait!' Time went on. We read again of the birth of a
son and heir to you, and of the great rejoicings. Irene held your boy
in her arms, and she frowned. 'Go now,' she commanded, 'tell Martin
de Vaux that his son and heir is here, and his wife is here! Tell him
that they are weary of his absence.' So I came!"

"'There was a dead silence. My throat and lips were dry; I could
not speak. Count Hirsfeld watched me with folded arms. It was his
vengeance!

"'"It is not true!" I stammered out at last. "I will not believe it.
Irene is dead!"

"'I tried to speak confidently, but I failed. In my heart I believed
the Count.

"'He shrugged his shoulders. "You have reason," he remarked. "Why
should you believe me? Come to Cruta, and you will see for yourself.
You can see the headstone at the foot of the grave: 'Sacred to the
memory of Marie, faithful servant of Irene of Cruta.' You can see the
doctor who attended her and your wife at the same time! Better still,
you can see your wife and your infant son! What do you say?"

"'"I will not go!" I cried passionately. "I will not see them! It was
base treachery!"

"'"One must use the weapons of craft against villains," he said.
"There is no baseness to equal yours. You are repaid in your own coin;
that is all."

"'I sank into a chair. The insult moved me to no fit of anger. I was
numbed.

"'"If this be true," I asked, "what does Irene ask for? I will not go
back to her, or see her, or acknowledge her in any way. She can have
money, that is all!"

"'"Naturally, she requires an allowance," Count Hirsfeld answered,
"and a large one, to enable her to bring up her son in accordance with
his position!"

"'"She shall