the
figure of a fair girl appeared.

"Your bride approaches," said Gonzague, and moved towards the new-comer,
suddenly pausing with an angry frown as he perceived that she was not
alone, for Gabrielle, very pale, but with courage in her eyes and
determination on her lips, entered the room accompanied by the gypsy girl
Flora. To Flora Gonzague spoke, angrily: "Why are you here? This is no
place for you."

The gypsy looked at him defiantly. "This is my place," she said, "for I
have found my friend, and I think she needs my friendship."

Gonzague spoke, imperiously: "Retire, Mademoiselle de Nevers!"

The gypsy girl gave him no answer, but held her ground mutinously.
Gabrielle moved a little away from her friend's side. She asserted her
right firmly. "I am Gabrielle de Nevers."

Again Gonzague addressed Flora: "Mademoiselle de Nevers," he said, "have
you not undeceived this unfortunate, this misguided girl?"

Flora answered him, steadily: "No, highness, for I believe her."

Gonzague began to lose his patience. He was bound, in the presence of his
friends, to keep up the assumption of belief in the gentility of Flora,
in her heirship to Nevers. He addressed her, harshly: "Mademoiselle de
Nevers, if you are mad enough to wish to abandon your rights to an
impostor, I am here to protect you, and I order you at once to retire."

Flora gave no sign of obedience, and Gabrielle spoke again: "I am
Gabrielle de Nevers. Why have I been brought here?"

Gonzague turned to her, and his manner was that of a judge coolly
courteous to one whom he professed to believe possibly innocent of
complicity in sin: "You have been brought here because I did not wish to
deliver you to the stern justice of the law. Your offence is grave, but
the fault lies with your accomplice, and his alone the penalty."

Gabrielle looked all about her, sustaining bravely the bold stares of the
dancing-women and the evil admiration of the men. "Where is Henri de
Lagardere?" she asked; and then, as only silence followed upon her
question, she cried: "Ah, he must be dead, since he is not here to defend
me."

Gonzague confirmed her fears: "He is dead."

Chavernay, who had kept resolutely apart from the rest of the guests, now
advanced to the beautiful girl who stood there alone and friendless, save
for Flora, and made her a respectful bow. "I will defend you in his
name," he said, simply.

Flora clapped her hands. "Bravo, little man!" she cried.

Gonzag