.

"I have come here, Gontran," exclaimed she, with extreme vehemence, "to
tell you that I think your conduct is abominable and ungentlemanly."

"Clotilde!"

"Hold your tongue! you are a wretch! Ah! now I can see why you did not
wish to write and inquire about poor Sabine. You well knew the effect
that your message would have on her."

M. de Breulh smiled as he turned to Andre and said,--

"You see that I was right in what I told you."

This remark for the first time attracted Madame de Bois Arden's
attention to the fact that a stranger was present, and she trembled lest
she had committed some grave indiscretion.

"Gracious heavens!" exclaimed she, with a start, "why, I thought that we
were alone!"

"This gentleman has all my confidence," replied M. de Breulh seriously;
and as he spoke he laid his hand upon Andre's shoulder. "Permit me to
introduce M. Andre to you, my dear Clotilde; he may not be known to-day,
but in a short time his reputation will be European."

Andre bowed, but for once in her life the Viscountess felt embarrassed,
for she was surprised at the extremely shabby attire of this
confidential friend, and then there seemed something wanting to the
name.

"Then," resumed De Breulh, "Mademoiselle de Mussidan is really ill, and
our information is correct."

"She is."

"Did you see her?"

"I did, Gontran; and had you seen her, your heart would have been filled
with pity, and you would have repented your conduct toward her. The
poor girl did not even know me. She lay in her bed, whiter than the very
sheets, cold and inanimate as a figure of marble. Her large black eyes
were staring wildly, and the only sign of life she exhibited was when
the great tears coursed down her cheeks."

Andre had determined to restrain every token of emotion in the presence
of the Viscountess, but her recital was too much for him.

"Ah!" said he, "she will die; I know it."

There was such intense anguish in his tone that even the practised woman
of the world was softened.

"I assure you, sir," said she, "that you go too far; there is no present
danger; the doctors say it is catalepsy, which often attacks persons of
a nervous temperament upon the receipt of a sudden mental shock."

"But what shock has she received?" asked Andre.

"No one told me," answered she after a short pause, "that Sabine's
illness was caused by the breaking off of her engagement; but, of
course, I supposed that it was."

"That was not t