injunction to keep silence
about the matter. He was, however, suddenly aroused from his rueful
reflections by the sound of hasty footsteps in the passage, and had
scarcely had time to rise from his chair when there stood before him a
young man, in the garb of a peasant indeed, but whose face and figure,
to say nothing of his language and manner, were little in accordance
with his homely apparel.

"You will be glad to hear, honest Jean," said he, "that I have managed
it all, and have succeeded in taking passages in a ship that sails
to-morrow morning. I must go and bring down my poor young wife at
once, as I have kept my boat waiting to take us off to the ship. I can
never repay you for your kindness, but----" Here he stopped short, and
then added in some surprise: "How now, my good friend! you look as if
you had seen a ghost."

That was, indeed, just what Jean himself was thinking at that moment.
"Heaven have mercy on us!" he ejaculated. "Is it you? It cannot be."

"Are you ill, or crazy, or else what is the matter?" cried Isidore.
"Has anything befallen her?" he added, as Jean stood there before him
wringing his hands. Isidore was about to rush up-stairs, but the
landlord grasped his arm and stopped him, and then in hurried and
broken sentences he related to him what had occurred during his absence.

Incoherent as the narrative was, it sufficed to tell Isidore only too
plainly what had happened; yet he could at first scarcely realise it
all. Trembling with agitation, he pressed the innkeeper with question
after question till nothing more remained to be told. "What could I
do," cried Jean, despairingly, "when monseigneur the marquis
himself--if, indeed, it was he--told me you would be all safe if I took
her at once to the Hotel Turenne?"

"The marquis himself!" cried Isidore. "Are you mad? I will not
believe it. What was he like--how old?"

"Perhaps a little older than yourself. I supposed, of course, that it
was the young marquis, of whom my brother has often spoken to me."

"The young marquis! There is some horrible treachery in all this; but
I will find it out, cost what it will. At the Hotel Turenne, did you
say?"

Jean nodded an affirmative, and before he could add another word
Isidore had rushed out of the house.

Dark as it was, he managed to find his way, after many inquiries, to
the Hotel Turenne. As he reached the door two mounted men with a led
horse came up; the master of the house