s expecting a visit from the young man, and had been waiting
for him with the cool complacency of a bird-catcher, who, having
arranged all his lines and snares, stands with folded arms until his
feathered victims fall into his net. The line that he had displayed
before the young man's eyes was the sight of liberty. Daumon had
emissaries everywhere, and knew perfectly well what was going on at the
Chateau de Champdoce, and could have repeated the exact words made use
of by the Duke in his last conversation with his son, and was aware
of the leave of liberty that had been granted to Norbert, and was as
certain as possible that this small concession would only hasten the
rebellion of the young Marquis.

He often took his evening stroll in the direction of Champdoce, and,
pipe in mouth, would meditate over his schemes. Pausing on the brow of a
hill that overlooked the Chateau, he would shake his fist, and mutter,--

"He will come; ah, yes, he must come to me!"

And he was in the right, for, after a week spent in indecision, Norbert
knocked at the door of his father's bitterest enemy. Daumon, concealed
behind the window curtain, had watched his approach, and it was with the
same air of deference that he had welcomed the Marquis, as he took care
to call him; but he affected to be so overcome by the honor of this
visit that he could only falter out,--

"Marquis, I am your most humble servant."

And Norbert, who had expected a very warm greeting, was much
disconcerted. For a moment he thought of going away again, but his pride
would not permit him to do so, for he had said to himself that it would
be an act of a fool to go away this time without having accomplished
anything.

"I want to have a bit of advice from you, Counsellor," said he; "for as
I have but little experience in a certain matter, I should like to avail
myself of your knowledge."

"You do me too much honor, Marquis," murmured the Counsellor with a low
bow.

"But surely," said the young man, "you must feel that you are bound to
assist me after all you told me a day or two back. You mentioned two
means by which I could regain my freedom, and hinted that there was a
third one. I have come to you to-day to ask you what it was."

Never did any man more successfully assume an air of astonishment than
did Daumon at this moment.

"What," said he, "do you absolutely remember those idle words I made use
of then?"

"I do most decidedly."

The villain's heart