fice of herself, and then she would
be free to accept the calm repose of the grave.

But the terrible revelation bore its fruits, for her fever came back,
and a relapse was the result. But youth and a sound constitution gained
the day, and when she was convalescent her will was as strong as ever.

Her first act was to write the letter to her lover which had driven him
to the verge of distraction; and then, fearing lest her father might, in
his agony and remorse, be driven to some rash act, she went to him and
told him that she knew all.

"I never loved M. de Breulh," said she with a pitiful smile, "and
therefore the sacrifice is not so great after all."

The Count was not for a moment the dupe of the generous-souled girl,
but he did not dare to brave the scandal of the death of Montlouis,
and still less the exposure of his wife's conduct. Time was passing,
however, and the miscreants in whose power they were made no signs of
life. Hortebise did not appear any more, and there were moments when
the miserable Diana actually ventured to hope. "Have they forgotten us?"
thought she.

Alas! no; they were people who never forgot.

The Champdoce affair had been satisfactorily arranged, and every
precaution had been taken to prevent the detection of Paul as an
impostor, and engaged as he had been, Mascarin had no time to turn
his attention to the marriage of Sabine and De Croisenois. The famous
Limited Company, with the Marquis as chairman, had, too, to be started,
the shares of which were to be taken up by the unhappy victims of
the blackmailers; but first some decided steps must be taken with the
Mussidans, and Tantaine was dispatched on this errand.

This amiable individual, though he was going into such very excellent
society, did not consider it necessary to make any improvement in his
attire. This was the reason why the footman, upon seeing such a shabby
visitor and hearing him ask for the Count or Countess, did not hesitate
to reply, with a sneer, that his master and mistress had been out for
some months, and were not likely to return for a week or two. This fact
did not disconcert the wily man, for drawing one of Mascarin's cards
from his pocket, he begged the kind gentleman to take it upstairs, when
he was sure that he would at once be sent for.

De Mussidan, when he read the name on the card, turned ghastly pale.

"Show him into the library," said he curtly.

Florestan left the room, and the Count mutely hand