had shared a
serious trouble with her, had passed through common difficulties
and dangers, he was finding what accident may do--how it may fan a
first liking into a stronger flame. It was absurd, of course. He
was fifty-one, he had weathered many trifling affairs of the
heart, and here he was, bowled over at last, and by a woman he was
not certain was entitled to his respect.

What was he to do?

The answer came at once and unhesitatingly, as it would to any
other honest, chivalrous gentleman.

"By George, I'll stick to her through thick and thin! I'll trust
her whatever happens or has happened, come what may. Such a woman
as that is above suspicion. She _must_ be straight. I should be
a beast and a blackguard double distilled to think anything else.
I am sure she can put all right with a word, can explain
everything when she chooses. I will wait till she does."

Thus fortified and decided, Sir Charles took his way to the Hotel
Madagascar about noon. At the desk he inquired for the Countess,
and begged that his card might be sent up to her. The man looked
at it, then at the visitor, as he stood there waiting rather
impatiently, then again at the card. At last he walked out and
across the inner courtyard of the hotel to the office. Presently
the manager came back, bowing low, and, holding the card in his
hand, began a desultory conversation.

"Yes, yes," cried the General, angrily cutting short all
references to the weather and the number of English visitors in
Paris. "But be so good as to let Madame la Comtesse know that I
have called."

"Ah, to be sure! I came to tell Monsieur le General that madame
will hardly be able to see him. She is indisposed, I believe. At
any rate, she does not receive to-day."

"As to that, we shall see. I will take no answer except direct
from her. Take or send up my card without further delay. I insist!
Do you hear?" said the General, so fiercely that the manager
turned tail and fled up-stairs.

Perhaps he yielded his ground the more readily that he saw over
the General's shoulder the figure of Galipaud the detective
looming in the archway. It had been arranged that, as it was not
advisable to have the inspector hanging about the courtyard of the
hotel, the clerk or the manager should keep watch over the
Countess and detain any visitors who might call upon her. Galipaud
had taken post at a wine-shop over the way, and was to be summoned
whenever his presence was thought necessar