postilion, sliding
off his horse and grunting with satisfaction.

"Gentlemen, I hope."

"Ladies!" and lowering his voice, the postilion added: "Ladies of high
degree, I can tell you. One is the granddaughter of an admiral and the
other can not be less than a duchess."

"Ladies? Oh, that is most unfortunate! The ladies' chamber is all
upset, and every other room is engaged. They will be compelled to wait
fully an hour."

"That will not inconvenience us, Monsieur," said a voice from the
window of the diligence, "provided we may have something hot to drink;
wines and hot water, with a dash of sugar and brandy. Come, my dear;
and don't forget your mask."

"How disappointing that the hotel was closed! Well, we can put up with
the tavern till morning."

With some difficulty the two women alighted and entered the common
assembly room, followed by the postilion who staggered under bulky
portmanteaus. They approached the fire unconcernedly, ignoring the
attention which their entrance aroused. The youngest gave a slight
scream as the Iroquois rose abruptly and moved away from the chimney.

"Holy Virgin!" Anne cried, clutching Gabrielle's arm; "it is an
Indian!" The vision of quiet in a Quebec convent grew vague.

"Hush! he would not be here if he were dangerous." Gabrielle turned
her grey-masked face toward the fire and rested a hand on the broad
mantel.

Victor, who had taken a table which sat in the shadow and who was
trying by the aid of champagne to forget the tragic scene of the hour
gone, came near to wasting a glass of that divine nectar of Nepenthe.
He brushed his eyes and held a palm to his ear. "That voice!" he
murmured. "It is not possible!"

At this same moment the vicomte turned his head, his face describing an
expression of doubt and astonishment. He was like a man trying to
recollect the sound of a forgotten voice, a melody. He stared at the
two figures, the one of medium height, slender and elegant, the other
plump and small, at the grey mask and then at the black. These were
not masks of coquetry and larking, masks which begin at the brow and
end at the lips: they were curtained. Seized, by an impulse, occult or
mechanic, the vicomte rose and drew near. The younger woman made a
gesture. Was it of recognition? The vicomte could not say. But he
saw her lean toward her companion, whisper a word which caused the grey
mask to wheel quickly. She seemed to grow taller, while a repelling