ut Hortebise interposed by putting his arm round Flavia's waist
and leading her from the room. When he returned, he observed,--

"I cannot understand your anger. It seems to me that all recrimination
is most indiscreet, for you can at any moment break off this marriage."

"Do you think it is nothing for me to be at the mercy of that cowardly
wretch, Paul?"

"Not more so than you are by the foolish weakness of your daughter. Is
not Paul our accomplice? And are we any more compromised because he has
discovered the secret of your triple personality?"

"Ah! you have not a father's feelings. Up till now Paul did not know
that I was Mascarin, and believed me to be the victim of blackmailers.
As a dupe he respected me, as an accomplice he will scorn me. This
disastrous marriage must be hastened."

Paul and Flavia's marriage took place at the end of the next week,
and Paul left his simple bachelor abode to take possession of the
magnificent suite of rooms prepared for him by the banker in his house
in the Rue Montmartre. The change was great, but Paul was no longer
surprised at anything. He did not feel the faintest tinge of remorse;
he only feared one thing, and that was that by some blunder he might
compromise his future, when the eventful day arrived which would give
him the social position and standing of heir to a dukedom.

When, however, the Duke de Champdoce came, accompanied by Perpignan,
the young imposter rose to the level of his masters, and played his part
with most consummate skill. The Duke, whose life had been one long scene
of misery, and who had so cruelly expiated the sins of his youth, seemed
to have become suddenly lenient; and had Paul obeyed him, he would
at once have established himself with his young wife at the Hotel de
Champdoce, but Martin Rigal put a veto upon this, for he was not quite
satisfied that his son-in-law was really the heir to the Champdoce
dukedom; and finally it was agreed that the Duke should come to
breakfast the next morning and take away Paul. Eleven was the hour
fixed, but the Duke appeared at the banker's house at ten, where he,
Catenac, Hortebise, and Paul were assembled together in solemn conclave.

"Now, papa," said Flavia, who kept her father on thorns by her gay and
frolicsome criticisms, "you will no longer blame me for falling in love
with a poor Bohemian, for you see that he is a Champdoce, and that his
father possesses millions."

The Duke was now seated on the so