efore expressed no
surprise when, on leaving the table, Diana pleaded a severe headache as
an excuse for retiring to her own room. When once she was alone, having
dismissed her maid, she heaved a deep sigh of relief. She never thought
of retiring to bed, but throwing open her window, leaned out with her
elbow on the window-sill.

It seemed to her that Norbert would certainly make some effort to
see her, or at any rate by some means to let her know whether he had
succeeded or failed.

"But I must be patient," murmured she, "for I can't hear anything until
the afternoon of to-morrow."

In spite, however, of her resolutions, patience fled from her mind, and
as soon as the servants had begun moving about, she went out into the
garden and took up a position which commanded a view of the highroad,
but no one appeared. The bell rang for breakfast. Again she had to seat
herself at table with her parents, and the terrible penance of the
past evening had to be repeated. At three o'clock she could endure the
suspense no longer, and making her escape from the Chateau, she went
over to Daumon, who, she felt, must have obtained some intelligence.
Even if she found that he knew nothing, it would be a relief to speak to
him and to ask him when he thought that this terrible delay would come
to an end. But she got no comfort at Daumon's, for he had passed as
miserable a night as herself, and was nearly dead with affright. He had
remained in his office all the morning, starting at the slightest sound,
and though he was as anxious as Diana for information, he had only gone
out a little before her arrival. He met Mademoiselle Laurebourg on his
return at the door of his cottage, and taking her inside, he informed
her that at a late hour the night before the doctor had been sent for
to Champdoce to attend the Duke, who was supposed to be dying. Then he
reproved her bitterly for her imprudence in visiting him.

"Do you wish," said he, "to show all Bevron that you and I are Norbert's
accomplices?"

"What do you mean?" asked she.

"I mean that if the Duke does not die, we are lost. When I say we, I
mean myself, for you, as the daughter of a noble family, will be sure to
escape scot free, and I shall be left to pay for all."

"You said that the effect was immediate."

"I did say so, and I thought so too. Ah, if I had but reflected a
little! You will however see that I do not intend to give in without
a fight. I will defend myself by acc