two malles
and a dressing-case. But they only contained the articles appertaining
to a lady's wardrobe or toilet,--no letters, not even another note
from Achille,--no clew, in short, to the family or antecedents of the
deceased. What then had become of these effects, no one at the hotel
could give a clear or satisfactory account. It was said by the mistress
of the hotel, rather sullenly, that they had, she supposed, been sold by
her predecessor, and by order of the authorities, for the benefit of the
poor.

If the lady who had represented herself as Louise Duval's acquaintance
had given her own name, which doubtless she did, no one recollected it.
It was not entered in the books of the hotel, for she had not
lodged there; nor did it appear that she had allowed time for formal
examination by the civil authorities. In fact, it was clear that poor
Louise Duval had been considered as an adventuress by the hotel-keeper
and the medical attendant at Munich; and her death had excited so little
interest, that it was strange that even so many particulars respecting
it could be gleaned.

After a prolonged but fruitless stay at Munich, Graham and M. Renard
repaired to Vienna; there, at least, Madame Marigny had given an
address, and there she might be heard of.

At Vienna, however, no research availed to discover a trace of any such
person; and in despair Graham returned to England in the January of
1870, and left the further prosecution of his inquiries to M. Renard,
who, though obliged to transfer himself to Paris for a time, promised
that he would leave no stone unturned for the discovery of Madame
Marigny; and Graham trusted to that assurance when M. Renard, rejecting
half of the large gratuity offered him, added, "Je suis Francais; this
with me has ceased to be an affair of money; it has become an affair
that involves my amour propre."

CHAPTER VIII.

If Graham Vane had been before caressed and courted for himself, he
was more than ever appreciated by polite society, now that he added the
positive repute of wealth to that of a promising intellect. Fine ladies
said that Graham Vane was a match for any girl. Eminent politicians
listened to him with a more attentive respect, and invited him to
selecter dinner-parties. His cousin the Duke urged him to announce
his candidature for the county, and purchase back, at least, the old
Stamm-schloss. But Graham obstinately refused to entertain either
proposal, continued to li