ome
woman had endeavored to entrap you, and by her insidious counsels
inducing you to disobey your best friend."

He paused, but there was no reply.

"This woman--this dangerous woman--I have been in search of, and as you
can conceive, I easily found her. I went to the Forest of Bevron, and
there I need not tell you I found Mademoiselle de Laurebourg."

"Did you speak to her?"

"I did so, certainly. I told her my opinion of those manoeuvring women
who fascinate the dupes they intend to take advantage of--"

"Father!"

"Can it be possible that you, simple boy even as you are, could have
been deceived by the pretended love of this wily young woman? It is not
you, Marquis, that she loves, but our name and fortune; but _I_ know if
_she_ does not that the law will imprison women who contrive to entrap
young men who are under age."

Norbert turned deadly pale.

"Did you really say that to her?" asked he, in a low, hoarse voice,
utterly unlike his own. "You dare to insult the woman I love, when you
knew that I was far away and unable to protect her! Take care, or I
shall forget that you are my father."

"He actually threatens me," said the Duke, "my son threatens me;" and,
raising the heavy stick he held in his hand, he struck Norbert a violent
blow. By a fortunate movement the unhappy boy drew back, and so avoided
the full force of the stroke, but the end of the stick struck him across
the temple, inflicting a long though not a serious wound. In his blind
rage Norbert was about to throw himself upon his father, when his eyes
caught sight of the open door. Liberty and safety lay before him, and,
with a bound, he was on the stairs, and before the Duke could shout for
aid from the window, his son was tearing across the park with all the
appearance and gesture of a madman.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE LITTLE GLASS BOTTLE.

In order to avoid being seen by Mademoiselle de Laurebourg, Daumon had
to take a much longer route to regain his home than the one that Diana
had followed. This, however, he could not help. As soon as he arrived
at his home he ran hastily upstairs and took from a cleverly concealed
hiding-place in the wainscoting of his bedroom a small bottle of dark
green glass, which he hastily slipped into his pocket. When he had
once more descended to his office, he again took it out and examined it
carefully to see that it had in no way been tampered with; then, with
a hard, cruel smile, he placed it upon his de