short distance.

He sat down.

Up to this time not a word had passed between them.

A monk and a nun, who keep their vows, could not have met more coldly
than this pair who had once plighted their hands and hearts in marriage
before the altar of the Church of St. Marie.

Valerie was the first to speak.

"Well, you insisted upon this interview. Now you have it. What do you
want of me?"

"I want you to leave the Duke of Hereward," he answered, sternly.

"You are right, so far. But the Duke of Hereward has saved me the trouble
of taking the initiative step. He has left me. I shall never see him,
more."

"How! What!" exclaimed de Volaski, starting up.

"The Duke of Hereward left for Algiers last night. I shall not remain
here to receive him when he returns."

"You told him, then, and he has left you? Good!"

"No, I have not told him; he knows nothing--not even that he has left me
forever. Business of a financial nature connected with his duties as
executor of my father's estates, takes him to Algiers for a few weeks.
During his absence I shall make arrangements for leaving this house
forever."

"Valerie, where will you go?" he inquired, in a more softened tone.

"I do not know--_not with you that is certain_. You were quite right
when you said that I could not live with either--that a single life was
the only possible one for me. I feel that it is so, and I hope that it
will be a short one."

"Valerie, do not say so. You are very young yet. The duke is an elderly
man; he will die and leave you free."

"I shall not be free _while_ EITHER of _you live_! nor
can I build any hope in life _on death_! Oh! I have been cruelly
wronged, and I am very miserable, but I am not selfish or wicked,
Waldemar."

"How soon do you propose to leave this house?"

"I do not know. I only know that I must go before the duke's return."

"What should hinder your going at once?"

"I must make some provision for the miserable remnant of life left me.
I must collect and sell my jewels and my shawls and laces, and invest the
money in some safe place, where it will bring me interest enough to live
cheaply in some remote country neighborhood. Wretched as I am, soon as I
hope to die, I do not wish to be dependant on _you_, Waldemar."

"No, nor do I wish anything but independence and honor for _you_,
Valerie. But you must let me assist you in realizing capital from your
personal property, and in making other necessary arrangements