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"And God pity me! I must pay it I must, for if he dies I shall have his blood upon rew alive you my promise to wed you hereafter--say in six months' time--what proof will you afford o free?"

I caught the sound of soasp froht ere he departs he shall come to take his leave of you Are you content?"

"Be it so, monsieur," she answered

Then at last I leapt to my feet I could endure no more You may marvel that I had had the heart to endure so ht satisfy myself how far this scoundrel Chatellerault would drive his trickster's bargain

A more impetuous man would have beaten down the partition, or shouted to her through it the consolation that Chatellerault's bargain was no bargain at all, since I was already at large And that is where a more impetuous man would have acted upon instinct more wisely than did I upon reason Instead, I opened the door, and, crossing the coht must lead to the chamber in which they were closeted But in this I was at fault, and ere I had come upon a waiter and been redirected soh the co upon another corridor He pushed it wide, and I came suddenly face to face with Chatellerault, still flushed fro, and his cheeks turning pale, as well they ht; for all that he could not dreao back, if you please, Monsieur le Comte" said I

"Back where?" he asked stupidly

"Back to Mademoiselle Back to the rooently I pushed hiloom, I missed the expression of his face

"She is not there," said he

I laughed shortly

"Nevertheless, ill go back," I insisted

And so I had ained the room where his infamous traffic had been held Yet for once he spoke the truth She was no longer there

"Where is she?" I derily

"Gone," he answered; and when I protested that I had not o by way of the public room, would you?" he demanded insolently "She left by the side door into the courtyard"