e Terville's return, De
Berniers labored heart and soul--that is to say, with as much of either
as was in him--to still further entangle his misguided and infatuated
friend. It was clear to him that De Montalvan was hopelessly in love,
and, since he had so well succeeded in the beginning of his enterprise,
he saw no reason why he might not conduct it to a more triumphant
conclusion than he had at first thought possible. He took counsel with
Virginie, and besought the supposed cousin to send a messenger to M. de
Terville, explaining the case, and asking his co-operation. He even
stimulated De Montalvan's passion by privately declaring that the
prospect of marriage was irksome to him, suggesting that he should
transfer his claims, and offering to intercede with Mlle. de Terville's
uncle, if De Montalvan could assure himself of the young lady's favor.

While this bungling disciple of Mephistopheles was digging his own
pitfall, Virginie was in some perplexity. She did not reveal to her
admirer that De Berniers was hoping to entrap him; for that, she said to
herself, there was no immediate necessity; and the days were passing so
agreeably that she shrunk from making any explanation that might disturb
their tranquillity. De Berniers, pursuing his scheme, kept himself
resolutely in retirement. From the treasures of his varied experience,
De Montalvan exhumed volumes of adventurous history for the young girl's
amusement. "The dangers he had passed" endeared him to her, and, though
his apparel was still sombre, there fortunately was no black face to
interfere with the pleasant growth of her regard; for the ladies of
Louis the Fifteenth's time were not generally so indifferent to personal
appearance as the fair Venetian was said to be. And then she had
obtained the sequel of the story of the Rajah's daughter, whom Raoul had
protected in the Indian forests; and it was satisfactory to know that
his guardianship over her, though gallant and chivalrous, had not been
prompted by too ardent an emotion. Her only apprehension was in regard
to what might occur upon her uncle's return. That he would not urge her
to espouse a man whom she thoroughly detested, she very well knew; but
whether he would sanction her betrothal to a poor soldier of fortune,
was a question which she hardly dared to ask herself. Not knowing what
to do, she did nothing, and, with considerable anxiety, waited for
events to work their own solution.

M. de Terville di