rife with Fate--a fight to a
finish. Well, he would not shrink from it He set himself to ask
what weapons he could use. Patience, tact, determination, sleepless
vigilance--they all seemed as if they were to be had for the asking. He
resolved upon them all, and so, having closed the window and put out the
lamp, he walked heavily up to bed.

Annette's doors were locked, both that which gave upon the corridor and
that which communicated with his own little room. He could but remember
how often they had been closed before, and what varying reasons he had
been forced to seek and find for her isolation of herself. That riddle
was read now. There would be a stormy scene in the morning when he came
to tell Annette that he had solved it, and thinking of how he should
face it, and of what means were the likeliest to lead to ultimate
victory, he lost something of the sickness of his pain. He undressed and
lay down in the dark, but there was no sleep for him until long after
the window-blind had grown amber-tinted with the gleam of the level sun
upon it.

When he awoke his watch told him that it was near ten o'clock. He rang
for his bath, dressed, breakfasted, met the people of the house, and
answered their friendly inquiries as to his journey all pretty much as
if nothing had occurred to change the whole horizon of his life. He made
no inquiries as to Annette, and no news came to him with regard to her.

It was near noonday when Laurent came into his study, very grave and
gray, and looking as if he, too, had had a night of severe trouble.
Paul read the sympathy in his face, and rose to meet him. The two shook
hands, and from that moment there was a real friendship between them.
'You have seen her? Laurent asked.

'Not yet,' said Paul

'You have thought over what I was compelled to tell you--what you saw?'

'Yes; I have thought it all over.

'And your conclusions?'

'To ask the aid of your experience, and to abide by your advice.'

'Thank you,' said Laurent gravely. 'I, too, have been thinking, and
perhaps, in my judgment, it may be better that I should first see her
alone. In my capacity of physician I can speak impersonally.'

'I am in your hands,' Paul answered, 'and I shall accede to whatever you
think is best.'

'Well,' returned Laurent, with a gray smile, 'I do not commonly advocate
eavesdropping, but I think perhaps it may be as well for you to hear our
talk together. It will guide you as to what you may say or