escribed, when, for the first time, he encountered Gaston de
Bois. The former would have hastened on, with only the rapid salutation
which had grown habitual to him, but M. de Bois stopped with
outstretched hand, and said,--

"Where have you hidden yourself? I have been expecting to see you ever
since I came to Paris; but I could not discover where you
lod--od--odged."

"My lodgings are in the Rue Bonaparte, numero --," returned
Maurice, abruptly; "but I am seldom at home."

"You will allow me to take my chance of finding you?" asked M. de Bois,
forcibly struck by his friend's altered appearance. "Or," he added, "you
will come to see me instead? I am at the Hotel Meurice at present."

"Thank you," said Maurice, absently, and glancing around him at the
passers-by as he spoke. "Good-morning."

M. de Bois would not be shaken off thus unceremoniously. He was too much
distressed by the evident mental condition of the viscount. He turned
and walked beside him, though conscious that Maurice looked annoyed.

"When we parted, did you go to Scotland, as you pro--o--po--sed?"
inquired Gaston.

"Yes; but Lady Vivian was in London. I sought her there. She knew
nothing of my cousin. I returned to Paris; for I am sure Madeleine is
here."

"Here?" almost gasped M. de Bois, stopping suddenly.

Maurice walked on without even noticing the strange confusion that
arrested his companion's steps.

The latter recovered himself and rejoined him, asking, in as unconcerned
a tone as he could command, "What has caused you to think so?"

"I am certain of it;--her passport was taken out for England, but it has
not been _vised_ in Paris. She must be here still, and I know that I
shall find her. I have walked the streets day after day, hoping to meet
her, and I tell you I shall--I must!"

M. de Bois, whose equanimity had only been disturbed for a moment, shook
his head sorrowfully, saying, "I fear _not_; it does not seem likely."

"To me it _does_. Fifty times I have thought I caught sight of her, but
she disappeared before I could make my way through some crowd to the
spot where she was standing. This will not last forever,--ere long we
shall meet face to face."

"I hope so! I heartily hope so! I would give all I possess, though that
is little enough, to have it so!"

These words were spoken with such generous warmth, that Maurice was
moved. He had not before noticed the change in his Breton neighbor,--a
change the precise opposite