y should I not take advantage of this information,
and judge for myself? But no. I will not stoop to such an act of
baseness. I should be as infamous as the writer of this letter if I
was to play the spy, as she recommends me to do." He glanced round,
and perceived that his servants were looking at him with undisguised
curiosity.

"Go to your work," said he. "Extinguish the lights, and see that all the
doors and windows are carefully closed."

He had made up his mind now, and taking out his watch, saw that it was
just eight o'clock. "I have time to reach Paris," muttered he, "by the
appointed time." Then he called Jean to him again. There was no need to
conceal anything from this trusty adherent of the house of Champdoce. "I
must start for Paris," said the Duke, "without an instant's delay."

"On account of that letter?" asked the old man with an expression of the
deepest sorrow upon his features.

"Yes, for that reason only."

"Some one has been making false charges against the Duchess."

"How do you know that?"

"It was easy enough to guess."

"Have the carriage got ready, and tell the coachman to wait for me in
front of the club. I myself will go on foot."

"You must not do that," answered Jean gravely. "The servants may have
conceived the same suspicions as I have. You ought to creep away without
any one being a bit the wiser. The other domestics need not even suppose
that you have left the house. I can get you a horse out of the little
stables without any one being the wiser. I will wait for you on the
other side of the bridge."

"Good; but remember that I have not a moment to lose."

Jean left the room, and as he reached the passage Norbert heard him say
to one of the servants, "Put some cold supper on the table; the Duke
says that he is starving."

Norbert went into his bedroom, put on a great coat and a pair of high
boots, and slipped into his pocket a revolver, the charges of which he
had examined with the greatest care. The night was exceedingly dark, a
fine, icy rain was falling, and the roads were very heavy. Norbert found
Jean with the horse at the appointed spot, and as he leaped into the
saddle the Duke exclaimed, "Not a soul saw me leave the house."

"Nor I either," returned the attached domestic. "I shall go back and
act as if you were at supper. At three in the morning I will be in the
wine-shop on the left-hand side of the road. When you return, give a
gentle tap on the window-pane wit