id she, "never forgets,
never wearies, never despairs." They had friends too powerful to be
withstood, even by Bigot, and the Intendant would be compelled to loosen
his hold upon Le Gardeur. She would rely upon the inherent nobleness of
the nature of Le Gardeur himself to wash itself pure of all stain, could
they only withdraw him from the seductions of the Palace. "We will win
him from them by counter charms, Amelie, and it will be seen that virtue
is stronger than vice to conquer at last the heart of Le Gardeur."

"Alas, aunt!" replied the poor girl, her eyes suffused with tears,
"neither friend nor foe will avail to turn him from the way he has
resolved to go. He is desperate, and rushes with open eyes upon his
ruin. We know the reason of it all. There is but one who could have
saved Le Gardeur if she would. She is utterly unworthy of my brother,
but I feel now it were better Le Gardeur had married even her than that
he should be utterly lost to himself and us all. I will see Angelique
des Meloises myself. It was her summons brought him back to the city.
She alone can withdraw him from the vile companionship of Bigot and his
associates at the Palace."

Angelique had been duly informed of the return of Amelie to the city,
and of her fruitless visits to the Palace to see her brother.

It was no pleasure, but a source of angry disappointment to Angelique
that Le Gardeur, in despair of making her his wife, refused to devote
himself to her as her lover. He was running wild to destruction, instead
of letting her win the husband she aspired to, and retain at the same
time the gallant she loved and was not willing to forego.

She had seen him at the first sober moment after his return from Tilly,
in obedience to her summons. She had permitted him to pour out again his
passion at her feet. She had yielded to his kisses when he claimed her
heart and hand, and had not refused to own the mutual flame that covered
her cheek with a blush at her own falseness. But driven to the wall
by his impetuosity, she had at last killed his reviving hopes by her
repetition of the fatal words, "I love you, Le Gardeur, but I will not
marry you!"

Angelique was seized with a sudden impulse to withdraw from the presence
of Amelie in the Cathedral before being discovered by her. She was
half afraid that her former school companion would speak to her on the
subject of Le Gardeur. She could not brazen it out with Amelie, who knew
her too well, a