and, as she turned and recognized Andre, she uttered a
little cry of surprise.

"Great heavens! is that you?"

"Yes, it is I."

"And here? I dare say that my presence in this place surprises you," she
went on, "and that I have a short memory, and no feelings of pride."

Andre made no reply, and his silence was a sufficient rejoinder to the
question.

"You do me a great injustice," muttered the Countess. "I am here because
De Breulh told me that in your interests I ought to pardon Van Klopen,
and go to him again as I used to do; so you see, M. Andre, that it is
never safe to judge by appearance, and a woman more than anything else."

"Will you forgive me?" asked Andre earnestly.

The lady interrupted him by a little wave of her hand, invisible to all
save to him, which clearly said,--

"Take care; we are not alone."

She once more turned her eyes towards the street, and he mechanically
did the same. By this means their faces were hidden from observation.

"De Breulh," went on the lady, "has heard a good deal about De
Croisenois, and, as no doubt you can guess, but very little to his
credit, and quite enough to justify any father in refusing him his
daughter's hand; but in this case it is evident to me that De Mussidan
is yielding to a secret pressure. We must ferret out some hidden crime
in De Croisenois' past which will force him to withdraw his proposal."

"I shall find one," muttered Andre.

"But remember there is no time to be lost. According to our agreement, I
treat him in the most charming manner, and he thinks that I am entirely
devoted to his interests, and to-morrow I have arranged to introduce him
to the Count and Countess at the Hotel de Mussidan, where the Count and
Countess have agreed to receive him."

Andre started at this news.

"I saw," continued the lady, "that you were quite right in the opinion
you had formed, for in the first place the common danger has almost
reconciled the Count and Countess affectionately to each other, though
it is notorious that they have always lived in the most unhappy manner.
Their faces are careworn and full of anxiety, and they watch every
movement of Sabine with eager eyes. I think that they look upon her as
a means of safety, but shudder at the sacrifice she is making on their
account."

"And Sabine?"

"Her conduct is perfectly sublime, and she is ready to consummate the
sacrifice without a murmur. Her self-sacrificing devotion is perfectly
admirable