g out in
silence upon a prospect which neither of them saw.

"Yes, I do think it is a good view," said Marston; and as he turned
carelessly away, he darted a swift glance round the chamber. The door
opening toward the French lady's apartment was closed, but not actually
shut. This was enough; and as they left the room, Marston repeated his
invitation to his guest to accompany him; but in a tone which showed that
he scarcely followed the meaning of what he himself was saying.

He walked undecidedly toward his own room, then turned and went down
stairs. In the hall he met his pretty child.

"Ha! Rhoda," said he, "you have not been out today?"

"No, papa; but it is so very fine, I think I shall go now."

"Yes; go, and mademoiselle can accompany you. Do you hear, Rhoda,
mademoiselle goes with you, and you had better go at once."

A few minutes more, and Marston, from the parlor-window, beheld Rhoda and
the elegant French girl walking together towards the woodlands. He
watched them gloomily, himself unseen, until the crowding underwood
concealed their receding figures. Then, with a sigh, he turned, and
reascended the great staircase.

"I shall sift this mystery to the bottom," thought he. "I shall foil the
conspirators, if so they be, with their own weapons; art with art;
chicane with chicane; duplicity with duplicity."

He was now in the long passage, which we have just spoken of, and
glancing back and before him, to ascertain that no chance eye discerned
him, he boldly entered mademoiselle's chamber. Her writing desk lay upon
the table. It was locked; and coolly taking it in his hands, Marston
carried it into his own room, bolted his chamber-door, and taking two or
three bunches of keys, he carefully tried nearly a dozen in succession,
and when almost despairing of success, at last found one which fitted the
lock, turned, and opened the desk.

Sustained throughout his dishonorable task by some strong and angry
passion, the sight of the open escritoire checked and startled him for a
moment. Violated privilege, invaded secrecy, base, perfidious espionage
upbraided and stigmatized him, as the intricacies of the outraged
sanctuary opened upon his intrusive gaze. He felt for a moment shocked
and humbled. He was impelled to lock and replace the desk where he had
originally found it, without having effected his meditated treason; but
this hesitation was transient; the fiery and reckless impulse which had
urged him to th