your lover's sword that pierces my
heart. It is your only hope, for then you will be free."

He tore his coat from her fingers with brutal violence, and the unhappy
woman fell to the floor with a shriek as he closed the door upon her,
and followed his antagonist downstairs.

CHAPTER XVII.

BLADE TO BLADE.

Several times in the course of this interview Norbert de Champdoce had
been on the point of bursting into a furious passion, but he restrained
himself from a motive of self-pride; but now that his wife was no
longer present, he showed a savage intensity of purpose and a deadly
earnestness that was absolutely appalling. As he followed Croisenois
down the great staircase, he kept repeating the words, "Quick! quick!
we have lost too much time already;" for he saw that a mere trifle might
upset all his plans--such as a servant returning home before the others.
When they reached the ground-floor, he led George into a by-room which
looked like an armory, so filled was it with arms of all kinds and
nations.

"Here," said he, with a bitter sneer, "we can find, I think, what we
want;" and placing the candle he carried on the mantelpiece, he leaped
upon the cushioned seat that ran round the room, and took down from
the wall several pairs of duelling swords, and, throwing them upon the
floor, exclaimed, "Choose your own weapon."

George was an anxious as Norbert to bring this painful scene to a close,
for anything was preferable to this hideous state of suspense. The last
despairing glance of the Duchess had pierced his heart like a dagger
thrust, and when he saw Norbert thrust aside his trembling wife with
such brutality, it was all he could do to refrain from striking him
down. He made no choice of weapons, but grasped the nearest, saying,--

"One will do as well as another."

"We cannot fight in this darkness," said Norbert, "but I have a means to
remedy that. Come with me this way, so that we may avoid the observation
of the porter."

They went into the stables, where he took up a large lantern, which he
lighted.

"This," said he, "will afford ample light for our work."

"Ah, but the neighbors will see it, too; and at this hour a light in the
garden is sure to attract attention," observed George.

"Don't be afraid; my grounds are not overlooked."

They entered the garden, and soon reached the spot to which the Duke had
alluded. Norbert hung the lantern on the bough of a tree, and it gave
the same amount