the duke was obliged to pass on his way to attend morning
services in the chapel.

At ten o'clock, the duke appeared. Coursegol, who had not seen him for
several years, found him greatly changed. But the face surrounded by
white floating locks had not lost the benign expression which had always
characterized it; and he displayed the same simplicity of manner that
had always endeared him to the poor and humble. When he entered the
hall, the people who had been waiting for him, advanced to meet him.
They were mostly noblemen who owed their lives to his influence, and
who, thanks to him, were allowed to remain in France unmolested. He
listened to them with an abstracted air, glancing to the right and left
while they offered him their homage. Suddenly he perceived Coursegol who
was standing at a little distance awaiting his turn. He stepped toward
him and said:

"What do you desire, my friend?"

Coursegol bowed profoundly.

"Monseigneur," he replied, "I am the servant of the Marquis Philip de
Chamondrin, who once had the honor to belong to your household."

"Chamondrin! I remember him perfectly; a brave young man for whom my
poor Lamballe obtained a commission as captain of dragoons. I had news
of him quite recently."

"News of him!" exclaimed Coursegol, joyfully. "Ah! Monseigneur, where is
he? How is he?"

"Are you anxious to know?" inquired the duke.

"Your highness shall judge."

And Coursegol briefly recounted the events that had separated him from
Philip, and told the duke how Dolores and himself had come to Paris in
the hope of finding him. His recital must have been both eloquent and
pathetic, for when it was concluded tears stood in the eyes of the
listeners.

"Ah! What anxiety the young girl must have suffered!" exclaimed the
prince; "but I can reassure her. Yes; I recently received a letter from
the Marquis de Chamondrin. It shall be given to you and you shall carry
it to his sister. She will be indebted to me for a few hours of
happiness. My dear Miromesnil," added the duke, addressing an old man
who was standing near, "will you look in my correspondence of the month
of October for a letter bearing the signature of Chamondrin? When you
find it, give it to this worthy man."

Coursegol began to stammer out his thanks, but, without heeding them,
the duke came still nearer and said, in a low voice:

"Does Mademoiselle de Chamondrin require aid of any sort?"

"No, monseigneur," replied Coursegol.

"