y coming, I am sure he will feel grateful to me for not
delaying the interview I seek for a single instant.' And as she uttered
these words, her countenance wore an expression that made me tremble all
over."

"But," returned Rodolph, in an agitated tone, and, spite of all his
attempts at retaining his composure, being even paler than Murphy
himself, "I cannot guess what caused your emotion; there must be
something beyond those words of Madame d'Harville's to occasion it."

"I pledge you my honour if there be I am wholly ignorant of it; but I
confess those few words from Madame la Marquise seemed quite to bewilder
me. But even you, my lord, are paler than you were."

"Am I?" said Rodolph, supporting himself on the back of his chair, for
he felt his knees tremble under him.

"Nay, but, my lord, you are quite as much overcome as I was. What ails
you?"

"Though I die in making the effort," exclaimed the prince, "it shall be
done. Beg of Madame d'Harville to do me the honour to walk in."

By a singular and sympathetic feeling this extraordinary and wholly
unexpected visit of Madame d'Harville had awakened in the breasts of
Murphy and Rodolph the same vague and groundless hope, but so senseless
did it seem that neither was willing to confess it to the other.

* * * * *

Madame d'Harville, conducted by Murphy, entered the apartment in which
was the prince.

CHAPTER VI.

THE FATHER AND DAUGHTER.

Ignorant of Fleur-de-Marie's being the prince's daughter, Madame
d'Harville, in the fullness of her delight at restoring to him his
protegee, had not reckoned upon its being necessary to observe any
particular precaution in presenting her young companion, whom she merely
left in the carriage until she had ascertained whether Rodolph chose to
make known his real name and rank to the object of his bounty, and to
receive her at his own house; but perceiving the deep alteration in his
features, and struck with the visible gloom which overspread them, as
well as the marks of recent tears so evident in his sunken eye, Clemence
became alarmed with the idea that some fresh misfortune, greater than
the loss of La Goualeuse would be considered, had suddenly occurred.
Wholly losing sight, therefore, of the original cause of her visit, she
anxiously exclaimed:

"For heaven's sake, my lord, what has happened?"

"Do you not know, madame? Then all hope is at an end! Alas! your earnest
manner, th