k against the masonry I should have escaped uninjured. As it
was, my arm was smashed, and I swooned away with the pain. When I came
to, Marguerite was leaning out of the window, calling, "Maxime, speak to
me! For the love of heaven, speak to me, and say you pardon me!"

I arose, saying, "I am not hurt. If you will only wait another hour, I
will go home and get some one to let you out. Believe me, I will save
your honour as I have saved my own."

Binding up my arm, I got on my horse, and galloped back to Laroque
Castle. On the way I met Bevallan.

"Have you seen Mlle. Marguerite?" he said. "We are afraid she has got
lost."

"I met her this afternoon," I replied. "She told me she was going for a
ride to Elven Castle."

He rode off in the direction from which I had come, and when I returned
from the doctor with my broken arm set and bandaged, Marguerite and
Bevallan entered.

Hearing that I had had an accident, Madame Laroque came up late to-night
to see me. Old Laroque has had a stroke of paralysis, she tells me, and
she wishes to get the marriage contract between her daughter and
Bevallan signed to-morrow. Laubepin is bringing the document.

_IV.---A Test Case_

I don't know why I take the trouble to go on with this diary, but having
begun it I may as well finish it. Laubepin wanted me to go into the
drawing-room to witness the signing of the marriage contract, but
happily I was too ill to leave my bed; not only was my arm very painful,
but I was suffering from the shock of the fall. What an hour of misery I
passed before Mlle. de Porhoet-Gael appeared with the news of what had
happened! Her sweet, kind old eyes were bright with joy.

"It is all over," she said. "Bevallan has gone, and young Helouin has
also been turned out of the house."

I started up with surprise.

"Yes," she continued, with a smile, "the contract has not been signed.
Our friend Laubepin drew it up in such a way that the husband was not
able to touch a penny of the wife's money. M. Bevallan objected to this;
while he and his lawyer were arguing the matter with Laubepin,
Marguerite rose up.

"'Throw the contract in the fire,' she said, 'and, mother, give this
gentleman back the presents he sent to me.'

"Laubepin threw the deed in the flames, and Marguerite and her mother
walked out of the room.

"'What is the meaning of this?' cried Bevallan.

"'I will tell you,' I answered. 'A certain young lady was afraid that
you were merely