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More serious than the others, the group surrounding Madame de Montgeron strolled along under the trees in the side paths which, in their windings, often came alongside of the bridle-path. "What has become of Mademoiselle de Vermont, Duchess?" inquired Madame de Lisieux, who had been surprised not to find Zibeline riding with their party.
The orderly gave the letter to his chief, who dismissed him with a gesture before breaking the seal. The seal represented, without escutcheon or crown, a small, wild animal, with a pointed muzzle, projecting teeth, and shaggy body, under which was a word Henri expected to find: Zibeline!
As for Henri, silent and absorbed, he hesitated between the dread of facing a new emotion and the desire to go once more to gaze upon the tower of Prerolles, hardly more than two kilometres distant. "What is the matter with you, General?" Zibeline asked, observing that he did not appear to take pleasure in the surprise she had prepared. "I lived here many years a long time ago," he replied.
As he was not so curious as the Desvanneaux, it mattered little to him to what place they took him, so long as he should find Zibeline at the end of the journey. At the appointed hour the brother and sister drove to the Gare du Nord. The Duke, a director of the road, who had been obliged to attend a convocation of the Council until noon, had preceded them.
An event so unexpected as the enthronement of Zibeline in one of the two large boxes between the columns, in company with the Duchesse de Montgeron, Madame de Lisieux, and Madame de Nointel, did not escape their observation and comment. "The Duchess is never thoughtless in her choice of associates," said one of the ten.
The fourth act had begun, that scene in which Adrienne accomplishes her generous sacrifice in furnishing herself the ransom which must deliver her unfaithful lover. The rapt attention that Zibeline paid to this scene, and the slight movements of her head, showed her approval of this disinterested act.
The sweetness of a tete-a-tete might diminish the bitterness of recollections. He accepted. She ordered the cart brought around, and they climbed into the small vehicle, which was drawn by a strong pony, driven by Zibeline herself. "Which way?" she asked, when they had passed through the gates.
"Here it is," replied the notary, handing her a visiting card. "'Valentine de Vermont," she read aloud. "Zibeline?" cried Madame de Nointel. "Bravo! I offer her the assurance of my esteem!" "And I also," added Madame de Lisieux. "I can not offer mine," said Madame Desvanneaux, dryly. "A young woman who is received nowhere!"
"Not the brook, I beg of you!" cried Henri, seeing that, instead of running past the grand-stand, Zibeline apparently intended to attempt this dangerous feat. "Come on! Seaman would never forgive me if I balk at it!" she cried, riding fearlessly down the slope,
He led her before the portrait of the ancestral marshal of France, and said: "Twenty-three years ago I vowed before that portrait either to vanquish the enemy or to regain with honor all that I had lost at play. I have kept my word. Will you be my wife?" "Ah, you know my heart is yours!" Zibeline whispered, hiding her face upon his shoulder.
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