marvellous love. Even a course of deceit had not yet
prevailed to separate or chill their sister bosoms. But still in this
deep and wonderful love there were degrees: one went a shade deeper than
the other now--ay, since last night. Which? why, she who had sacrificed
herself for the other, and dared not tell her, lest the sacrifice should
be refused.

It was the gray of the morning, and foggy, when Raynal, after taking
leave, went to the stable for his horse. At the stable-door he came upon
a man sitting doubled up on the very stones of the yard, with his head
on his knees. The figure lifted his head, and showed him the face of
Edouard Riviere, white and ghastly: his hair lank with the mist, his
teeth chattering with cold and misery. The poor wretch had walked
frantically all night round and round the chateau, waiting till Raynal
should come out. He told him so.

"But why didn't you?--Ah! I see. No! you could not go into the house
after that. My poor fellow, there is but one thing for you to do. Turn
your back on her, and forget she ever lived; she is dead to you."

"There is something to be done besides that," said Edouard, gloomily.

"What?"

"Vengeance."

"That is my affair, young man. When I come back from the Rhine, she will
tell me who her seducer is. She has promised."

"And don't you see through that?" said Edouard, gnashing his teeth;
"that is only to gain time: she will never tell you. She is young in
years, but old in treachery."

He groaned and was silent a moment, then laying his hand on Raynal's arm
said grimly, "Thank Heaven, we don't depend on her for information! I
know the villain."

Raynal's eyes flashed: "Ah! then tell me this moment."

"It is that scoundrel Dujardin."

"Dujardin! What do you mean?"

"I mean that, while you were fighting for France, your house was turned
into a hospital for wounded soldiers."

"And pray, sir, to what more honorable use could they put it?"

"Well, this Dujardin was housed by you, was nursed by your wife and all
the family; and in return has seduced your sister, my affianced."

"I can hardly believe that. Camille Dujardin was always a man of honor,
and a good soldier."

"Colonel, there has been no man near the place but this Dujardin. I tell
you it is he. Don't make me tear my bleeding heart out: must I tell you
how often I caught them together, how I suspected, and how she gulled
me? blind fool that I was, to believe a woman's words before my ow