on the side of the Chateau facing the town, and as we
passed beneath the arch I saw two men standing no great distance away,
and watching us, it seemed to me.

One wore the cassock of a priest, and I could have sworn that he was
Pere Antoine; the other resembled the inquisitive stranger. As we drew
near they moved behind a pillar. Thus, inexorably, the chase drew near.

My suspicions received confirmation a few minutes later, for we had
hardly reached our rooms, and I was, in fact, standing at the door of
Jacqueline's, bidding her good night, when a bellboy came along the
passage and announced that the gentleman whom I was expecting was
coming up the stairs.

I said good-night to Jacqueline and went into my room and waited. I
had thought it would be the stranger, but it was the priest.

I invited him to enter, and he came in and stood with his fur cap on
his head, looking direfully at me.

"Well, _monsieur_, what is the purpose of this visit?" I asked.

"To tell you," he thundered, "that you must give up the unhappy woman
who has accompanied you here."

"That is precisely what I intend to do," I answered.

"To me," he said. "Her husband----"

I felt my brain whirling. I knew now that I had always cherished a
hope, despite the ring--what a fool I had been!

"I married them," continued Pere Antoine.

"Where is he?" I demanded desperately.

He appeared disconcerted. I gathered from his stare that he had
supposed I knew.

"This is a Catholic country," he went on, more quietly. "There is no
divorce; there can be none. Marriage is a sacrament. Sinning as she
is----"

I placed my hand on his shoulder. "I will not hear any more," I said.
"Go!" I pointed toward the door.

"I am going to take her away with me," he said, and crossing the
threshold into the corridor, placed one hand on the door of
Jacqueline's room.

I got there first. I thrust him violently aside--it was like pushing a
monument; turned the key, which happily was still outside, and put it
in my pocket.

"I am ready to deal with her husband," I said. "I am not ready to deal
with you. Leave at once, or I will have you arrested, priest or no
priest."

He raised his arm threateningly. "In God's name--" he began.

"In God's name you shall not interfere with me," I cried. "Tell that
to your confederate, Simon Leroux. A pretty priest you are!" I raged.
"How do I know she has a husband? How do I know you are not in league
with he