hough her parents may be called upon to
perish upon the scaffold in an ignominy as great as ever befell two
guilty mortals?"

The answer came brokenly, but with unwavering strength:

"Did you not say that she was innocent? Is she to be crushed beneath the
guilt of her parents? Am I to take the last prop from one so soon to be
bereft of all the supports upon which she has leaned from infancy? If I
cling to her, she may live through her horror and shame; but should I
fail her--great heavens! would we not have another life to answer for
before God? Besides," he added, with the simplicity which marked his
whole bearing, "I love her. I could not do otherwise if I would."

To this final word I could make no rejoinder. With a reverence unmingled
with the taint of compassion, I took my departure, and being anxious by
this time to know how my young charge was bearing her seclusion, I went
to the room where I had left her, and softly opened the door.

CHAPTER XXV.

MARK FELT.

[Illustration: S]

Subjected as I have been in the last three hours to distress and
turmoil, I was delighted to find mademoiselle asleep, and to behold her
peaceful face. Gazing at it, and noting the happy smile which
unconsciously lingered on her lips, I could not but feel that, despite
the hideous revelations which lay before her, her lot was an enviable
one, allied as it promised to be with that of one of such high
principles as the marquis. Though I am old now and have had my day, the
love of the innocent and pure is sacred to me, and in this case it
certainly has the charm of a spotless lily blooming in the jaws of hell.

As it was late and I was almost exhausted, I began to think of rest. But
my uneasiness in regard to madame would not let me sleep till I had
made another visit to her room. So, leaving the gentle sleeper lapped in
serenest dreams, I proceeded to descend once more. As I passed the great
clock on the stairs, I noticed that it was almost midnight and began to
hasten my steps, when I heard a loud knock at the front door.

This is not an infrequent sound with us, but it greatly startled me this
night. I even remember pausing and looking helplessly up and down the
hall, as if it were a question whether I should obey the unwelcome
summons. But such knocking as speedily followed could not be long
ignored. So, subduing my impatience, I hastened to the door, and
unlocking it, threw it open. A gust of rain and wind greeted me.