e Mussidan. She loves--and whom do you think?--why a mere painter, who
has crossed my path three times already. He is full, too, of energy and
perseverance, and for these qualities I have never met his equal."

"What, a man without friends, money, or position, what can--"

A rapid gesture of Tantaine's checked his companion's speech.

"Unfortunately he is not without friends," remarked the genial Tantaine.
"He has one friend at least; can you guess who it is? No less
a personage than the man who was to have married Sabine, M. de
Breulh-Faverlay."

At this unexpected news Hortebise remained silent and aghast.

"How on earth those two met I cannot imagine. It must have been Sabine
that brought them together, but the facts remain the same. They are
close friends anyhow. And these two men have in their interests the very
woman that I had selected to push De Croisenois' suit."

"Is it possible?"

"That is my present belief. At any rate, these three had a long
interview last night, and doubtless came to a decision hostile to the
interests of the Marquis."

"What do you mean?" asked Hortebise, his lips tightly compressed with
anxiety. "Do you mean that they are aware of the manner by which De
Croisenois hopes to succeed?"

"Look here?" answered Tantaine. "A general, on the eve of a battle,
takes every precaution, but among his subordinates there are always
fools, if not traitors. I had arranged a pretty little scene between
Croisenois and Van Klopen, by which the Viscountess would be securely
trapped. Unfortunately, though the rehearsal was excellent, the
representation was simply idiotic. Neither of the actors took the least
trouble to enter into the spirit of his part. I had arranged a scene
full of delicacy and _finesse_, and they simply made a low, coarse
exhibition of it and themselves. Fools! they thought it was the easiest
thing in the world to deceive a woman; and finally the Marquis, to whom
I had recommended the most perfect discretion, opened fire, and actually
spoke of Sabine and his desire to press his suit. The Viscountess found,
with a woman's keen perceptions, that there was something arranged
between Van Klopen and her visitor, and hurried off to her cousin, M. de
Breulh-Faverlay for advice and assistance."

The doctor listened to this recital, pallid and trembling.

"Who told you all this?" gasped he.

"No one; I discovered it; and it was easy to do so. When we have a
result, it is easy to trace