, devised, planned,
schemed, till the old man grew husky and pale. The sight of his senile
weariness flashed the irony of the whole wild dream into Valmond's mind.
He rose, and, giving his arm, led Lagroin to his bedroom, and bade him
good-night. When he returned to the room, it was empty.

He looked around, and, seeing an open door, moved to it quickly. It led
into a little stairway.

He remembered then that there was a room which had been, apparently,
tacked on, like an after-thought, to the end of the house. Seeing the
glimmer of a light beyond, he went up a few steps, and came face to face
with Elise, who, candle in hand, was about to descend the stairs again.

For a moment she stood quite still, then placed the candle on the rude
little dressing-table, built of drygoods boxes, and draped with fresh
muslin. Valmond took in every detail of the chamber at a single glance.
It was very simple and neat, with the small wooden bedstead corded with
rope, the poor hickory rocking-chair, the flaunting chromo of the Holy
Family, the sprig of blessed palm, the shrine of the Virgin, the print
skirts hanging on the wall, the stockings lying across a chair, the bits
of ribbon on the bed. The quietness, the alluring simplicity, the whole
room filled with the rich presence of the girl, sent a flood of colour
to Valmond's face, and his heart beat hard. Curiosity only had led him
into the room, something more radical held him there.

Elise seemed to read his thoughts, and, taking up her candle, she came
on to the doorway. Neither had spoken. As she was about to pass him, he
suddenly took her arm. But, glancing towards the window, he noticed that
the blind was not down. He turned and blew out the candle in her hand.

"Ah, your Excellency!" she cried in tremulous affright.

"We could have been seen from outside," he explained. She turned and
saw the moonlight streaming in at the window, and lying like a silver
coverlet upon the floor. As if with a blind, involuntary instinct for
protection, she stepped forward into the moonlight, and stood there
motionless. The sight thrilled him, and he moved towards her. The mind
of the girl reasserted itself, and she hastened to the door. Again, as
she was about to pass him, he put his hand upon her shoulder.

"Elise--Elise!" he said. The voice was persuasive, eloquent, going to
every far retreat of emotion in her. There was a sudden riot in his
veins, and he took her passionately in his arms,