"No, the marriage stands. I could wish that it did not," said the
woman passionately. "I could be happier if he suspected me of
anything, however base, and in his suspicion set me free."

"Hark ye, Laure," said the Marquis earnestly. "I am an old man, and
the life I have led has not served to maintain my youth. What I am
engaged in now does not conduce to that ease of body and peace of mind
which promotes long life. To you I say what I have said to no one
else. We are standing, as it were, on a volcano. The army is in no
sense loyal to the King. I advised that it be disbanded absolutely,
but I was overruled. It is seething with sedition. The envoys of the
powers at Vienna are playing, idling, debating endlessly, and while
they play and idle and talk in their fools' paradise, the Emperor, he
who is so called by misguided France, will return. I should not be
surprised at any moment to receive tidings that he has landed."

"And that is what they mean when they speak about the violets blooming
again?"

"Yes, that is it. And, do you know as I walked in the garden this
morning I found this."

He tossed the first tiny purple violet of the spring on the table
before her.

"But he will be dead before the Emperor comes," murmured the woman, her
hand upon her heart.

"Put that thought out of your mind, my child," said the old man.
"Think rather of Captain Yeovil."

"I hate him," said the Countess, which was most unjust, for he had done
nothing at all to deserve such an expression on her part.

"Hate is the passion of old age," said the Marquis slowly, "love that
of youth. I told you that my race would soon be run. I am an old man.
I have suffered much. I shall be content to die if I can serve my King
here a little after all these years of weary waiting. The title-deeds
that young man gave back do not cover much. The estate has been
divided and granted to strangers. It is practically all gone but the
old chateau. I have little or nothing to leave you beyond those small
amounts which your father used to send me, which I never would touch
because they came from a disloyal France. The Yeovils are true and
worthy people. The boy is a gallant lad, a brave soldier, even if not
overly acute. Sir Gervaise is a man of consideration and of great
wealth. You are portionless. He is most generous. I am very happy in
the thought that you will be taken care of. I know what it is to be
alone and poor."

"I