netrate the depths of the earth and see what the earth had made of the
fair creature that had been cast to it; then I walked sadly away.

"Do you want to see M. Duval, sir?" said the gardener, who was walking
beside me.

"Yes."

"Well, I am pretty sure he is not back yet, or he would have been here
already."

"You don't think he has forgotten Marguerite?"

"I am not only sure he hasn't, but I would wager that he wants to change
her grave simply in order to have one more look at her."

"Why do you think that?"

"The first word he said to me when he came to the cemetery was: 'How can
I see her again?' That can't be done unless there is a change of grave,
and I told him all about the formalities that have to be attended to in
getting it done; for, you see, if you want to move a body from one grave
to another you must have it identified, and only the family can give
leave for it under the direction of a police inspector. That is why M.
Duval has gone to see Mlle. Gautier's sister, and you may be sure his
first visit will be for me."

We had come to the cemetery gate. I thanked the gardener again, putting
a few coins into his hand, and made my way to the address he had given
me.

Armand had not yet returned. I left word for him, begging him to come
and see me as soon as he arrived, or to send me word where I could find
him.

Next day, in the morning, I received a letter from Duval, telling me
of his return, and asking me to call on him, as he was so worn out with
fatigue that it was impossible for him to go out.

Chapter 6

I found Armand in bed. On seeing me he held out a burning hand. "You
are feverish," I said to him. "It is nothing, the fatigue of a rapid
journey; that is all." "You have been to see Marguerite's sister?" "Yes;
who told you?" "I knew it. Did you get what you wanted?"

"Yes; but who told you of my journey, and of my reason for taking it?"

"The gardener of the cemetery."

"You have seen the tomb?"

I scarcely dared reply, for the tone in which the words were spoken
proved to me that the speaker was still possessed by the emotion which
I had witnessed before, and that every time his thoughts or speech
travelled back to that mournful subject emotion would still, for a long
time to come, prove stronger than his will. I contented myself with a
nod of the head.

"He has looked after it well?" continued Armand. Two big tears rolled
down the cheeks of the sick man, and he turned away hi