t half
convinced. "Ah! if you had only spoken that word!" she murmured. The
baron smiled a crafty and malicious smile, which would have chilled
M. de Coralth's very blood if he had chanced to see it. "I am not so
stupid!" he replied. "We mustn't frighten the fish till we are quite
ready. Our net is the Chalusse estate, and Coralth and Valorsay will
enter it of their own accord. It is not my plan, but M. Ferailleur's.
There's a man for you! and if Mademoiselle Marguerite is worthy of him
they will make a noble pair. Without suspecting it, your son has perhaps
rendered us an important service this evening--"

"Alas!" faltered Madame d'Argeles, "I am none the less ruined--the name
of Chalusse is none the less dishonored!"

She wanted to return to the drawing-room; but she was compelled to
relinquish this idea. The expression of her face betrayed too plainly
the terrible ordeal she had passed through. The servants had heard
M. Wilkie's parting words; and news of this sort flies about with
the rapidity of lightning. That very night, indeed, it was currently
reported at the clubs that there would be no more card-playing at the
d'Argeles establishment, as that lady was a Chalusse, and consequently
the aunt of the beautiful young girl whom M. and Madame de Fondege had
taken under their protection.

VIII.

Unusual strength of character, unbounded confidence in one's own energy,
with thorough contempt of danger, and an invincible determination to
triumph or perish, are all required of the person who, like Mademoiselle
Marguerite, intrusts herself to the care of strangers--worse yet, to the
care of actual enemies. It is no small matter to place yourself in the
power of smooth-tongued hypocrites and impostors, who are anxious for
your ruin, and whom you know to be capable of anything. And the task is
a mighty one--to brave unknown dangers, perilous seductions, perfidious
counsels, and perhaps even violence, at the same time retaining a calm
eye and smiling lips. Yet such was the heroism that Marguerite, although
scarcely twenty, displayed when she left the Hotel de Chalusse to accept
the hospitality of the Fondege family. And, to crown all, she took
Madame Leon with her--Madame Leon, whom she knew to be the Marquis de
Valorsay's spy.

But, brave as she was, when the moment of departure came her heart
almost failed her. There was despair in the parting glance she cast upon
the princely mansion and the familiar faces of