bourg was changed into a feeling of loathing and
disgust.

At last the first pale rays of dawn broke through the casement, but
before that Norbert, worn out with conflicting emotions, had fallen into
a restless and uneasy sleep, and when he awoke the doctor was standing
by the bedside of the sick man. At the first sound made by Norbert as
he stirred in the chair, the doctor came towards him, saying, "We shall
preserve his life."

This prognostication was complete, for that very evening the Duke de
Champdoce was able to move in his bed, the next day he uttered some
incoherent words, and later on asked for food; but the will of iron had
passed away, the features had lost their expression of determination,
and the eye the glitter of pride and power. Never again would the Duke
be able to exert that keen, stern intellect which had enabled him to
influence all those around him; and in this terrible state of imbecility
the haughty nobleman would ever remain, fed and looked after like a
child, with no thought beyond his desires and his warm fire, and without
a care for anything that was going on in the world around him.

After the enormity of his crime had been brought before him, the
greatness of the punishment that he must endure now came across
Norbert's mind. It was only now that Jean had ventured to tell him of M.
de Puymandour's visit; and such a change had taken place in Norbert that
he looked upon this visit as a special arrangement made by Providence.

"My father's will shall be carried out in every respect," said he to
himself, and without an hour's delay he wrote to M. de Puymandour,
begging him to call, and hoping that the grief which had fallen upon him
had in no way altered the plan which had already been arranged.

CHAPTER X.

A THUNDERBOLT.

As the miner, who sets fire to the fuse and seeks shelter from the
coming explosion, so did Diana de Laurebourg return to her father's
house after her visit to Daumon. During dinner it was impossible for
her to utter a word, and it was with the greatest difficulty that she
succeeded in swallowing a mouthful. Fortunately neither her father
nor mother took any notice of her. They had that day received a letter
announcing the news that their son, for whose future prosperity they
had sacrificed Diana, was lying dangerously ill in Paris, where he was
living in great style. They were in terrible affliction, and spoke of
starting at once, so as to be with him. They ther