d dared to seize at
Frankfort a man too dangerous through his connection with the world of
letters, and had consigned him to a living tomb, if even his life had
been spared. She shuddered at the thought; but even the prospect of a
fate so dismal could not long keep down the generous and heroic spirit
of Clotilde de Valricour. "At least," she murmured, "I shall save poor
Marguerite; nay, I perhaps maybe the means of enabling her to be happy
with Isidore in spite of these cruel machinations."

How long the journey lasted the unfortunate girl had no means of
knowing; it seemed to her an age, though in reality it was but a few
hours. She became at last nearly exhausted with the incessant jolting
over rough roads, and plunging about in others that were little better
than bogs. Excitement, however, and the continual apprehension of some
unlooked-for catastrophe forbade all thoughts of sleep, and it was
actually with a sensation of relief that she noticed that the huge
carriage was rattling over a rough pavement, and heard the noise of
great gates being swung to, and barred behind them. She looked out,
and could just perceive that they had driven into a spacious
court-yard, nearly surrounded by grey, sombre-looking buildings, at the
great entrance door of which the vehicle drew up.

[Illustration: Tailpiece to Chapter VI]

[Illustration: Headpiece to Chapter VII]

CHAPTER VII.

Alighting hastily from the carriage, Clotilde ran up the great flight
of steps which led to the door. As she entered, it was closed behind
her, but to her surprise, and much to her relief, she found that the
janitress was a nun.

"Tell me, good sister, tell me for the love of Heaven, what place is
this? Where have these men brought me to?" she exclaimed, trembling
with excitement.

Apparently somewhat astonished at the vehemence of the new-comer, the
female answered only by making a sign to Clotilde to follow her; she
then led the way across the hall to a spacious apartment, and there
left her. Clotilde would have repeated her questions, but she was too
late, and on trying the door she found it locked.

The fact that the house must in some way be connected with a religious
establishment of some kind allayed her fears, however, and she cast an
anxious glance around the apartment, which was lighted by a handsome
chandelier suspended from the ceiling. Her quick eye soon noticed more
than one little accessory, which showed t