wiped her eyes.

"You will know why I laugh some day, mon ami," she remarked. "Till then,
ask no questions."

Alan was not disposed to ask them. He remained silent, and his silence
continued until the little station of Culoz was reached.

"We change here, of course," he said. "But why should we leave the
station?"

"Do you want to starve me?" his wife inquired angrily. "We will go to
the inn. There is an inn on the road to the village; I asked about it
yesterday."

Very few English tourists think it worth their while to spend any time
at Culoz, pretty little place although it be; and the landlady of the
quaint auberge, with its wooden, vine-grown piazza, was somewhat amazed
and distracted by the appearance of foreign visitors. The dining-room
seemed to be full of peasants in blue blouses, who had been attending a
fair; but lunch was served to Mr. and Mrs. Walcott in the open air, on
the verandah. Cora grumbled openly at the simple fare provided; and Alan
thought how charming would be the scene and the rustic meal if only his
companion were more congenial. For himself, he was quite satisfied with
the long French loaf, the skinny chicken, the well-salted cream cheese,
and the rough red _vin du pays_. The blue sky, the lovely view of
mountain and valley, lake and grove, the soft wind stirring the vine
leaves on the trellis-work of the verandah, would have given him unmixed
delight if he had been alone. But all was spoiled by the presence of an
unloved and unloving wife.

* * * * *

The road to the chateau leads upwards from Culoz, and is a trifle hot
and dusty. Alan wondered dumbly whether Cora had an object in dragging
him so far away from the inn, and what that object was. But he took
small annoyances patiently. It was something gained, at least, that his
wife should seem content. Anything was better than tearing rage or
violent hysterical weeping, which were the phases of temper most
frequently presented to his view. On this occasion she appeared pleased
and happy. He surprised a touch of malignity in her tones, a glance of
evil meaning now and then; but he did not greatly care. Cora could not
keep a secret. If she had any ill-will or ill intention towards him he
was sure to know it before long.

"I am tired," she said at last, abruptly. "Let us sit down and rest.
Look, here is an entrance into the park of the chateau. Shall we go in?"

"Is it open to the public?" said Alan, wi