urice," said Bertha, bending over him compassionately, "if
Madeleine only knew how wretched she has made us both, surely she would
not forsake us so cruelly."

Maurice, by a gesture, prayed her to sit down. Baptiste stood in the
doorway; his attitude betokened a reluctance to enter, and a desire to
be quickly dismissed. After a long interval, the viscount, slowly
raising his head, was again struck by the perturbed mien of the
guileless old man, whose native simplicity, warmth, and ingenuousness
would have melted any mask he attempted to assume. Maurice had almost
abandoned all expectation that he would receive any information from the
domestics; but he now experienced a sudden renewal of hope.

"Baptiste," he said, scrutinizing the ancient gardener closely, "do you
not know where Mademoiselle Madeleine is?"

"No, monsieur."

The reply was uttered in a tone of genuine sadness.

"You cannot even guess?"

"No, monsieur."

"Do you know how she left here?"

"No, monsieur."

"Baptiste, you are not speaking falsely?--you are not trifling with me?
If you _are_, you can hardly know how cruelly you are adding to my
sorrow."

"I have spoken the exact truth, monsieur."

"I am sure he has, Maurice," interrupted Bertha. "I never knew Baptiste
to utter even a _white lie_: he has as great a horror of falsehood as
Madeleine herself."

Baptiste looked at her gratefully.

"Then you know _nothing at all_," ejaculated Maurice, in a tone of
discouragement. "You did not help Mademoiselle Madeleine in any way? She
must have had some assistance; but from _you_ she had none? You did not
even know that she intended to leave us?"

Baptiste hesitated; his mouth twitched,--his eyes were fixed upon the
ground.

"Why do you not answer, Baptiste?" asked Bertha. "You _did not_ know
that Mademoiselle Madeleine was going,--did you?"

"Yes, mademoiselle."

The answer was spoken almost in a whisper.

"_You knew it?_ And why, _why_ have you not told us this before?" she
almost shrieked out.

"No one asked me that question, mademoiselle; and Mademoiselle Madeleine
requested me not to give any information concerning her which I could
possibly, and without uttering a falsehood, avoid."

Maurice sprang up and laid his hand upon the old man's shoulder.

"Speak _now_ then! You cannot avoid telling us all you know! You were
aware that she was going; you assisted her flight. _How_ did you aid
her? _What_ did you do? _What_ do you know?"