waiting for Mlle. Lucienne to awake, fly without looking behind, or
else stay, and then accept all the chances of an incurable passion
for a woman who, perhaps, might never care for him. And he remained
wavering, like the traveler who finds himself at the intersection
of two roads, and, knowing that one leads to the goal, and the other
to an abyss, hesitates which to take.

With this difference, however, that if the traveler errs, and
discovers his error, he is always free to retrace his steps; whereas
man, in life, can never return to his starting-point. Every step he
takes is final; and if he has erred, if he has taken the fatal road,
there is no remedy.

"Well, no matter!" exclaimed Maxence. "It shall not be said that
through cowardice I have allowed that happiness to escape which
passes within my reach. I shall stay." And at once he began to
examine what reasonably he might expect; for there was no mistaking
Mlle. Lucienne's intentions. When she had said, "Do you wish to be
friends?" she had meant exactly that, and nothing else,--friends,
and only friends.

"And yet," thought Maxence, "if I had not inspired her with a real
interest, would she have so wholly confided unto me? She is not
ignorant of the fact that I love her; and she knows life too well
to suppose that I will cease to love her when she has allowed me a
certain amount of intimacy."

His heart filled with hope at the idea.

"My mistress," he thought, "never, evidently, but my wife. Why not?"

But the very next moment he became a prey to the bitterest
discouragement. He thought that perhaps Mlle. Lucienne might have
some capital interest in thus making a confidant of him. She had
not told him the explanation given her by the peace-officer. Had
she not, perhaps, succeeded in lifting a corner of the veil which
covered the secret of her birth? Was she on the track of her
enemies? and had she discovered the motive of their animosity?

"Is it possible," thought Maxence, "that I should be but one of the
powers in the game she is playing? How do I know, that, if she wins,
she will not cast me off?"

In the midst of these thoughts, he had gradually fallen asleep,
murmuring to the last the name of Lucienne.

The creaking of his opening door woke him up suddenly. He started
to his feet, and met Mlle. Lucienne coming in.

"How is this?" said she. "You did not go to bed?"

"You recommended me to reflect," he replied. "I've been reflect