the only other exit from the room was by means of a
window some forty feet from the ground. The young man, however, imagined
that some one would surely come to make up his bed for the night; that
would give him two sheets; these he could knot together and thus secure
a means of escape. He might not be able to see Diana at once, but he
could easily send her a message by Daumon, warning her of what had taken
place. Having arranged his plans, he threw himself into an armchair
with a more easy mind than he had experienced for many months past. The
decisive step had been taken, and the relations between his father and
himself clearly defined, and thus he naturally considered great progress
had been made, and the task before him seemed as nothing to what he had
already performed.

"My father," thought he, "must be half mad with passion."

And Norbert was not wrong in his opinion. When the Duke, as usual, took
his place at the table, at which the farm laborers ate their meals, not
one of them had the courage to make a single observation. Every one knew
what a serious altercation had taken place between father and son, and
each one was devoured by the pangs of ungratified curiosity.

As soon as the meal was concluded, the Duke called an old and
trustworthy servant, who had been in his employment for over thirty
years.

"Jean," said he, "your young master is locked in the yellow room. Here
is the key. Take him something to eat."

"Very good, your Grace."

"Wait a little. You will spend the night in his room and keep a strict
watch upon him. He may design to make his escape. If he attempts it,
restrain him, if necessary, by physical force. Should he prove too
strong for you, call to me; I shall be near, and will come to your aid."

This unexpected precaution upon the Duke's part upset all Norbert's
plans of escape. He endeavored to persuade Jean to allow him to go out
for a couple of hours, giving his word of honor that he would return
at the expiration of that time. Prayers and menaces, however, had no
effect. Had the young man gazed from the window, he would have seen
his father striding moodily up and down the courtyard, with the thought
gnawing at his heart that perhaps after all these many years of waiting
his plans might yet be frustrated.

"There is a woman at the bottom of all this," said he to himself. "It
is only woman's wiles that in this brief space of time would effect so
complete a change in a young man's d