y one man
in the world who could achieve Guida's full justification, and that was
himself, Detricand of Vaufontaine.

He was glad to turn to the Chevalier's letters from Jersey. It was from
the Chevalier's lips he had learned the whole course of Guida's life
during the four years of his absence from the island. It was the
Chevalier who drew for him pictures of Guida in her new home, none
other than the house of Elie Mattingley, which the Royal Court having
confiscated now handed over to her as an act of homage. The little world
of Jersey no longer pointed the finger of scorn at Guida Landresse de
Landresse, but bent the knee to Princess Guida d'Avranche.

Detricand wrote many letters to the Chevalier, and they with their
cheerful and humorous allusions were read aloud to Guida--all save one
concerning Philip. Writing of himself to the Chevalier on one occasion,
he laid bare with a merciless honesty his nature and his career.
Concerning neither had he any illusions.

I do not mistake myself, Chevalier [he wrote], nor these late doings
of mine. What credit shall I take to myself for coming to place and
some little fame? Everything has been with me: the chance of
inheritance, the glory of a cause as hopeless as splendid, and more
splendid because hopeless; and the luck of him who loads the dice--
for all my old comrades, the better men, are dead, and I, the least
of them all, remain, having even outlived the cause. What praise
shall I take for this? None--from all decent fellows of the earth,
none at all. It is merely laughable that I should be left, the
monument of a sacred loyalty greater than the world has ever known.

I have no claims--But let me draw the picture, dear Chevalier. Here
was a discredited, dissolute fellow whose life was worth a pin to
nobody. Tired of the husks and the swine, and all his follies grown
stale by over-use, he takes the advice of a good gentleman, and
joins the standard of work and sacrifice. What greater luxury shall
man ask? If this be not running the full scale of life's enjoyment,
pray you what is? The world loves contrasts. The deep-dyed sinner
raising the standard of piety is picturesque. If, charmed by his
own new virtues, he is constant in his enthusiasm, behold a St.
Augustine! Everything is with the returned prodigal--the more so if
he be of the notorious Vaufontaines, who were ever saints turned
sinners, or sinn