ven you are safe from her
machinations, and I have reason to believe she has influence enough at
Versailles for anything."

"I am not afraid of her, Monsieur Perigord," observed Isidore
haughtily. "My father would hardly stand that, although he may be
angry with me, as I suppose you know, since you know so much else."

"Perhaps so, perhaps so," answered old Perigord; "but it may be done
behind his back, and before he can interfere. Besides, even if
monsieur is safe I do not suppose he would let Mademoiselle Marguerite
run any risk of such a horrible fate if he could help it."

"You are right, my good friend," said Isidore; "I am afraid there is
danger indeed, and at all events I will do what I can to avert it. I
will go on at once to Valricour and warn Mademoiselle Lacroix, though
as to what more I can do I am at present utterly at a loss."

"Then I will tell you," rejoined the old man. "I have a cousin at St.
Sulpice--you know the place, monsieur--it is on the Paris road from
Valricour, not more than four or five leagues from the chateau; he is
an honest and kindly man. I will go to him to-day--it is a fete day
there, and my visit will cause no surprise. I will tell him that you
are coming, and I am sure he and his wife will give mademoiselle a
refuge--ay, and you too, if things should come to the worst--until
something can be done. He is a worthy man, and I will answer for him
with my life. Now go, my dear young master, and Heaven speed you.
There is no time to lose."

Isidore would have expressed his thanks to the old man for the lively
interest he had shown, and for the assistance he had so promptly
offered in case of need, but Perigord had already vanished. Ten
minutes later the young marquis was again on horseback, and on his way
to Valricour.

On reaching the chateau Isidore found his cousin and Marguerite in a
state of great anxiety on account of his long absence, and what he had
to tell them was not calculated to allay their uneasiness. Fortunately
they were alone, as the baroness had again gone over to Beaujardin that
morning, and many a plan was discussed and abandoned by turns as their
vague hopes of finding some way out of the difficulty alternated with
the fears to which Isidore's account of the interview with his father,
of the warning received in Paris, and of the meeting with old Perigord,
could not but give rise. At last it was agreed that Isidore should
wait and boldly face Madame de