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Into the htful man must come at times with bitterness the reflection of how utterly we are at the mercy of Fate, the victims of her every whim and caprice We may set out with the loftiest, the sternest resolutions to steer our lives along a well-considered course, yet the slightest of fortuitous circumstances will suffice to force us into a direction that we had no thought of taking
Now, had it pleased Monsieur de Marsac to have come to Lavedan at any reasonable hour of the day, I should have been already upon the road to Paris, intent to own defeat and payht the reflection that I ht thereafter return to Roxalanne, a poor ht not be misconstrued
And so, when at last I sank into sleep, my mind was happier than it had been for many days Of Roxalanne's love I was assured, and it seeht win her, after all, once I removed the barrier of shahts kept me awake until a late hour, and that to this I owe it that when on theell advanced The sun was flooding my chamber, and at my bedside stood Anatole
"What's o'clock?" I inquired, sitting bolt upright
"Past ten," said he, with stern disapproval
"And you have let me sleep?" I cried
"We do little else at Lavedan even e are awake," he grumbled "There was no reason whyout a paper, "Monsieur Stanislas de Marsac was here beti with Mademoiselle his sister He left this letter for you, monsieur"
Amaze and apprehension were quickly followed by relief, since Anatole's words suggested that Marsac had not res, and whilst I turned it over in my hands I questioned the old servant
"He stayed an hour at the chateau, monsieur," Anatole informed me "Monsieur le Vicomte would have had you roused, but he would not hear of it 'If what Monsieur de Saint-Eustache has told uest should prove to be true,' said he, 'I would prefer not to meet him under your roof, monsieur' 'Monsieur de Saint-Eustache,' my ht with any man of honour' But in spite of that, Monsieur de Marsac held to his resolve, and although he would offer no explanation in answer to my master's many questions, you were not aroused