still worse by it." Then, addressing himself to the
clerk, he added, "Depend upon it there is nothing of any consequence in
the message you have brought; 'tis merely the effects of a wandering
imagination on the part of the countess; but, to prevent your feeling
any uneasiness, I promise to acquaint M. Ferrand with it directly he is
well enough to converse upon any matter of business."

We shall now conduct the reader to the house of the Countess Sarah
Macgregor.

CHAPTER II.

RODOLPH AND SARAH.

A salutary crisis had occurred, which relieved the Countess Macgregor
from the delirium and suffering under which, for several days, her life
had been despaired of.

The day had begun to break when Sarah, seated in a large easy chair, and
supported by her brother, Thomas Seyton, was looking at herself in a
mirror which one of her woman on her knees held up before her. This was
in the apartment where La Chouette had made the attempt to murder.

The countess was as pale as marble, and her pallor made her dark eyes,
hair, and eyebrows even more striking; and she was attired in a
dressing-gown of white muslin. "Give me my bandeau of coral," she said
to one of her women, in a voice which, although weak, was imperious and
abrupt.

"Betty will fasten it on for you," said Seyton; "you will exhaust
yourself; you are already very imprudent."

"The bandeau,--the bandeau!" repeated Sarah, impatiently, who took this
jewel and arranged it on her brow. "Now fasten it, and leave me!" she
said to the women.

The instant they were retiring, she said, "Let M. Ferrand be shown into
the little blue salon." Then she added, with ill-dissembled pride, "As
soon as his royal highness the Grand Duke of Gerolstein comes, let him
be introduced instantly to this apartment."

[Illustration: "_Was Looking at Herself in a Mirror_"
Original Etching by Adrian Marcel]

"At length," said Sarah, as soon as she was alone with her brother, "at
length I trust this crown--the dream of my life: the prediction is on
the eve of fulfilment!"

"Sarah, calm your excitement!" said her brother to her; "yesterday your
life was despaired of, and to be again disappointed would deal you a
mortal blow!"

"You are right, Thomas; the fall would be fearful, for my hopes were
never nearer realisation! Of this I feel assured, for it was my constant
thought of profiting by the overwhelming revelation which this woman
made me at the moment of her assassination th