ht to do so, and yet they are kept apart by
unreasonable and cruel-minded parents. They are young and know nothing
of the law, and without help they would most certainly get into a
muddle. Now, suppose I take their matter in hand, knowing the law
thoroughly as I do, and being up to its weak as well as its strong
points.'"

He spoke on in this strain for some minutes, and did not notice that
they had withdrawn a little apart, and were whispering to each other.

"Why should we not trust him?" asked Norbert. "He has plenty of
experience."

"He would betray us; he would do anything for money."

"That is all the better for us then; for if we promise him a handsome
sum, he will not say a word of what has passed to-day."

"Do as you think best, Norbert."

Having thus gained Diana's assent, the young man turned to Daumon. "I
put every faith in you, and so does Mademoiselle de Laurebourg. You know
our exact situation. What do you advise?"

"Wait and hope," answered the Counsellor. "The slightest step taken
before you are of age will be fatal to your prospects, but the day you
are twenty-one I will undertake to show you several methods of bringing
the Duke on his knees."

Nothing could make this speech more explicit; but he was so cheerful and
confident, that when Diana left the office, she felt a fountain of fresh
hope well up in her heart.

This was nearly their last interview that year, for the winter came on
rapidly and with increased severity, so that it was impossible for the
lovers to meet out of doors, and the fear of spying eyes prevented them
from taking advantage of Daumon's hospitality. Each day, however, the
widow's daughter, Francoise, carried a letter to Laurebourg, and brought
back a reply to Champdoce. The inhabitants of the various country houses
had fled to more genial climates, and only the Marquis de Laurebourg,
who was an inveterate sportsman, still lingered; but at the first heavy
fall of snow he too determined to take refuge in the magnificent house
that he owned in the town of Poitiers. Norbert had foreseen this, and
had taken his measures accordingly. Two or three times in the week he
mounted his horse and rode to the town. After changing his dress, he
made haste to a certain garden wall in which there was a small door.
At an agreed hour this door would gently open, and as Norbert slipped
through he would find Diana ready to welcome him, looking more
bewitching than ever. This great passion, w