her lips, as she caught
a glimpse of her visitor's pale and harassed face. "Is there anything
the matter?" asked she.

"Not yet," answered he, "but there may be, for I hear that Mademoiselle
de Mussidan is dangerously ill."

"Is she really? Poor Sabine! what is the matter with her?"

"I do not know; and I want you, Clotilde, to send one of your people to
inquire into the truth of what we have heard."

Madame de Bois Arden opened her eyes very wide.

"Are you joking?" said she. "Why do you not send yourself?"

"It is impossible for me to do so; and if you have any kindness of
heart, you do as I ask you; and I want you also to promise me not to say
a word of this to any one."

Excited as she was by this mystery, Madame de Bois Arden did not ask
another question.

"I will do exactly what you want," replied she, "and respect your
secret. I would go at once, were it not that Bois Arden will never sit
down to dinner without me; but the moment we have finished I will go."

"Thanks, a thousand times; and now I will go home and wait for news from
you."

"Not at all,--you will remain here to dinner."

"I must,--I have a friend waiting for me."

"Do as you please, then," returned the Viscountess, laughing. "I will
send round a note this evening."

De Breulh pressed her hand, and hurried down, and was met by Andre at
the door, for he had been unable to sit still in the carriage.

"Keep up your courage. Madame de Bois Arden had not heard of
Mademoiselle Sabine's illness, and this looks as if it was not a very
serious matter. We shall have the real facts in three hours."

"Three hours!" groaned Andre, "what a lapse of time!"

"It is rather long, I admit; but we will talk of her while we wait, for
you must stay and dine with me."

Andre yielded, for he had no longer the energy to contest anything. The
dinner was exquisite, but the two men were not in a condition of mind
to enjoy it, and scarcely consumed anything. Vainly did they endeavor
to speak on indifferent subjects, and when the coffee had been served in
the library, they relapsed into utter silence. As the clock struck ten,
however, a knock was heard at the door, then whisperings, and the rustle
of female attire, and lastly Madame de Bois Arden burst upon them like a
tornado.

"Here I am," cried she.

It was certainly rather a hazardous step to pay such a late visit to a
bachelor's house, but then the Viscountess de Bois Arden did exactly as
she pleased