gol," replied the Marquis. "Take
the child, if you wish. As for the mother, may her soul rest in peace!
She probably had no faith in religion; but I am sure she was guilty of
no sin. I shall request the cure of Remoulins to allow her body to
repose in his cemetery. I will now inform the authorities of what has
occurred."

With these words, the Marquis left the room; and Coursegol, after
covering the face of the dead with reverent hands, knelt and prayed for
her as well as for the orphan who had been confided to his care.

The Chateau de Chamondrin was scarcely a century old. Erected on the
site of a feudal castle which had been demolished because it threatened
to fall into ruins, the present structure was destitute of the massive
towers, moats and drawbridges that characterize the ancient castle. The
building was square and enclosed an immense court; it was only two
stories high, and the upper story was surrounded by a veranda. Such had
been the very simple plan executed by the architect; and the result had
been an unpretentious abode, but one to which the color of the bricks
used in its construction, the delicate columns that supported the
windows and doors and the graceful pavilions placed at each of the four
corners lent an air of extreme elegance.

The building occupied the entire plateau on the brow of the hill and
commanded a superb view of the Garden; while the park and farm-lands,
vineyards and forests pertaining to the chateau covered the hill itself.
This property was now the only possession of the house of Chamondrin,
one of the oldest in Languedoc and Provence. It was not always thus.
There had been a time when "As rich as a Chamondrin" was a proverb in
the region thereabout. In those days this illustrious family had
countless vassals and unbounded wealth, and enjoyed an income that
enabled it for many successive generations to play a conspicuous role,
first at the Court of Provence and later at the Court of France. The
grandfather and father of the present Marquis lived to see the end of
this proverbial opulence. They both led careers of extravagance and
dissipation, taking part in all the gayeties and follies of the court.
The grandfather was one of the favorite companions of Philippe
d'Orleans; and wine, cards and women killed him when he should have been
still in the prime of life.

His son did not learn wisdom from his father's example. He in his turn
became the friend of the Regent, and to repair h