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The Countess's French maid peered out at me. "Tell your mistress that I must see her at once." "Madame is not at home, m'sieur," said the young woman. "Not at home?" I gasped. "Where is she?" "Madame has gone to bed." "Oh," I said, blinking. "Then she is at home. Present my compliments and ask her to get up. Something very exasperating has hap "
"It is impossible," cried one of the company, "that a woman of the countess's age and appearance can be guilty of such folly. No, no; you mistake the aim of this detestable woman. She is managing to get possession of the estate of her lovely niece."
The elder, Lord Geraldin, who was to succeed to the title and fortune of Glenallan, was totally dependent on his mother during her life. The second, when he came of age, assumed the name and arms of his father, and took possession of his estate, according to the provisions of the Countess's marriage-settlement.
And Count Tristan did lean upon her, for his limbs were too feeble to ascend a long flight without difficulty. The door of the countess's salon was but a few paces from the top of the stair. Madeleine paused, took the count's hand affectionately in hers, and pressed it several times to her lips, saying, "Now I must bid you adieu. It would not be agreeable to the countess to see me.
Jurgen was making his fair profit out of the Countess's folly, and it was merely his duty to see that this little business transaction was managed without any scandal. "So there is nothing more to say," observed Jurgen, as he rose in the moonlight, "save that I shall always be delighted to serve you, madame, and I may reasonably boast that I have earned a reputation for fair dealing."
Then he repeated the countess's order that, upon the following morning, the chateau should be abandoned and all should ride to La Rochelle; and he despatched half a dozen mounted men, to warn all the Huguenot gentry in the district. In a few minutes the tenants began to flock in.
If she could carry off the child by sea she would not so much care for the fall of the town, but the French ships lie thick round the port, and there is no hope of breaking through." Two days later the conspiracy came to a head, and the people, assembling round the countess's house, clamoured for surrender. The breaches were open, and the enemy might pour in at any time and put all to the sword.
"Why, there's the countess's mare, Gothard's horse, and Monsieur d'Hauteserre's." "There is only one in the stable," said Peyrade. "Mademoiselle is out riding," said Durieu. "Does she often ride about at this time of night?" said the libertine Peyrade, addressing Monsieur d'Hauteserre. "Often," said the good man, simply. "Monsieur le maire can tell you that."
"Surprised yes!" he answered. "And something more than surprised I am astonished! Your lordship left the Countess's jewels with our manager? May I ask when and under what circumstances?" "About six weeks ago," replied the Earl promptly. "As a rule the jewels are kept at my bankers in London. The Countess wanted them to wear at the Hunt Ball, so I fetched them from London myself.
He descended the winding staircase, and once more entered the Countess's bedroom. The dead old lady sat as if petrified; her face expressed profound tranquillity. Hermann stopped before her, and gazed long and earnestly at her, as if he wished to convince himself of the terrible reality; at last he entered the cabinet, felt behind the tapestry for the door, and then began to descend the dark staircase, filled with strange emotions. "Down this very staircase," thought he, "perhaps coming from the very same room, and at this very same hour sixty years ago, there may have glided, in an embroidered coat, with his hair dressed
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