ill not leave it undone, I
promise you."

Having hurled this speech after his retreating foe, M. Perigord also
retired, after a parting salutation to the _maitre d'hotel_, who could
only answer by holding up his hands and exclaiming, "Alas! the world is
coming to an end!"

[Illustration: Tailpiece to Chapter V]

[Illustration: Headpiece to Chapter VI]

CHAPTER VI.

After the memorable interview with his father, Isidore had at first
buoyed himself up with the hope that with the help Clotilde and
Marguerite he might still find some way out of the difficulty; a night
of anxious thought, however, convinced him that they would be powerless
to effect anything, and that he must act for himself, and promptly too.
He could not remain at Beaujardin, nor could he any longer accept the
hospitality of the baroness. Besides, out of consideration for
Clotilde he did not care to disclose to her her mother's part in the
matter, whilst his pride recoiled from telling Marguerite all the
humiliating incidents of the scene with his father. There could be no
hope of their speedy union, or indeed of any favourable turn of affairs
for some time to come, and he therefore resolved to go off straight to
Paris and obtain his re-appointment to his former post in Canada; there
he could communicate with his uncle, and secure his aid. He
accordingly confided to a trusty messenger a note, in which he briefly
informed Marguerite of the unfavourable result of his visit to
Beaujardin, and of his object in proceeding to Paris, whence he
promised to return without delay. He set off for that city on the
following morning, and on arriving there made his application to the
Minister of War; but two days elapsed before he received an answer.
What was his astonishment on opening it to find that the application
was refused! He was on the point of hurrying off to seek an interview
with the Minister himself, when he perceived a small note, which had
been enclosed with the official letter; it was in the hand of a
confidential secretary whom he knew well, and ran as follows:--

"_Quit Paris without an hour's delay, or you are lost. The danger also
threatens a person about whom you are most concerned._"

The warning came from one who would not have penned it without good
grounds, and Isidore felt that it was not to be neglected for a moment.
What if some mischief had already befallen Marguerite during his
absence! In half an hour he wa