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"None at all;" and, overwhelmed with the sense of his utter helplessness, Norbert sank back upon a chair. After a brief period of reflection, Daumon spoke with apparent reluctance, "No, Marquis, I cannot see you so miserably unhappy without doing my best to help you. A man is a fool who puts out his hand to interfere between father and son, but I will find money to lend you what you want."
Norbert was a thoroughly strong, honest youth, and the idea of meanness and duplicity were most repugnant to his feelings in general; and yet he listened eagerly to this proposition, for oppression had utterly changed his nature. The career of dissipation and pleasure proposed so adroitly by Daumon dazzled his imagination and his eyes began to sparkle.
"M. Norbert can find it." "Go to him, then." Daumon made a negative sign with his head. "I am not quite such a fool," answered he; "I know M. Norbert too well. He is the very image of his father. But you can manage him, mademoiselle; besides, you have much interest in having the matter settled." "Counsellor!" "There is no use in beating about the bush.
Her first thought was to destroy them, but on reflection she decided not to do so, and hid the packet in the same place as she had concealed the letters written by Norbert to her. Norbert had given Daumon sixty thousand francs, and in addition owed him twenty thousand on his promissory notes.
In spite of all this, however, Mademoiselle de Laurebourg was secretly delighted at the departure of Daumon and Francoise; for she experienced an intense feeling of relief at knowing that she no longer was in any risk of meeting her accomplice in her daily walks.
Where was Norbert, and what was he doing? he asked himself. At the time that Daumon was reflecting, Norbert was on the road leading to Champdoce. He had entirely lost his head, but he found that his reason was clear and distinct.
But confess, Marquis," she added, with a coquettish laugh, "that this is a droll way of making an acquaintance." Norbert started at the word Marquis, for no one but Daumon had ever addressed him thus. "She does not despise me," thought he. "This little incident will be a lesson to me," continued she.
As the miner, who sets fire to the fuse and seeks shelter from the coming explosion, so did Diana de Laurebourg return to her father's house after her visit to Daumon. During dinner it was impossible for her to utter a word, and it was with the greatest difficulty that she succeeded in swallowing a mouthful. Fortunately neither her father nor mother took any notice of her.
Daumon, concealed behind the window curtain, had watched his approach, and it was with the same air of deference that he had welcomed the Marquis, as he took care to call him; but he affected to be so overcome by the honor of this visit that he could only falter out, "Marquis, I am your most humble servant." And Norbert, who had expected a very warm greeting, was much disconcerted.
She had not yet decided upon a fresh point of departure, but she had fully made up her mind that she would gain the victory. The first thing was to see Norbert with as little delay as possible. Just then the carriage pulled up at the widow's cottage, which she entered hastily. "I have seen Daumon," said she. "Do not be alarmed; all matters will be arranged shortly."
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