Valricour on her return, and that the
final step to be taken should depend on the clue which that interview
might afford as to the precise nature of the danger and the quarter
from which it was likely to come. In the meanwhile Isidore, who was
well known and much liked in the neighbouring village, engaged the
services of a small tenant farmer who owned a good horse and cart, in
case Marguerite's immediate removal from Valricour should prove to be
necessary.

It was already dusk when the distant sound of wheels was heard, and on
hastening to the window they perceived the great lumbering family coach
coming up the avenue. In a couple of minutes more it had stopped at
the hall door, and all eyes were bent on the spot to catch a sight of
the baroness. To their surprise, however, no Madame Valricour
descended from the vehicle, but they noticed that in addition to
madame's coachman and footman it was accompanied by one of the
Beaujardin servants on horseback, a not unusual precaution when persons
of note travelled after dusk, although one which the state of her
household and stable mostly obliged the baroness to dispense with. The
mystery was soon solved by the entrance of a servant with a note for
Mademoiselle Lacroix. It was from Madame de Valricour, and was to the
effect that as she had found it impossible to return to the chateau
that evening, she considered it undesirable that Marguerite should
remain under her roof after what had passed, she had therefore, she
added, sent the carriage to bring her to the Chateau de Beaujardin,
where she would for the present remain.

More than once was this unexpected communication perused both by
Marguerite and her friends, and then an animated dispute arose as to
what was to be done. Marguerite, anxious only to escape from a roof
under which she was in such a false position, was for setting off at
once in compliance with the wishes of the baroness; Isidore, however,
would not hear of her going alone, and declared that he would accompany
her and make another appeal to his father.

Clotilde shook her head. "It is useless," said she; "nay, I will go
further," she continued with a sigh, "I am afraid that there is more
beneath this letter than we can fathom. It is not what my mother would
write if this were all she meant. I will take Marguerite's place and
go to Beaujardin."

"You!" exclaimed Isidore and Marguerite in a breath. "What will be the
good of that?"

"At any ra