arry them out no
longer.'

'But this is very simple; it may already be true--at least it will soon
be true. Only tell him that she is my brother's wife. Then will his
generosity awaken, then will he see that to persist in the validity of
his marriage would be misery, dishonour to her, then----'

'Child, you know not how hard he is in his sense of right. Even for
his brother's sake he would not give way an inch, and the boy was as
obstinate as he!'

'Ah! but this comes nearer. He will be stung; his generosity will be
piqued. He will see that the kindest thing he can do will be to nullify
his claim, and the child----'

The Chevalier groaned, struck his brow with his fist, and muttered,
'That will concern no one--that has been provided for. Ah! ah! children,
if I lose my own soul for you, you----'

'Father, my sweet father, say not these cruel things. Did not the
Queen's confessor tell us that all means were lawful that brought a soul
to the Church? and here are two.'

'Two! Why, the youth's heresy is part of his point of honour. Child,
child, the two will be murdered in my very house, and the guilt will be
on my soul.'

'No, father! We will--we will save him. See, only tell him this.'

'This--what? My brain is confused. I have thought long--long.'

'Only this, father, dear father. You shall not be tormented any more, if
only you will tell him that my brother has made Eustacie his wife, then
will I do all the rest.'

Diane coaxed, soothed, and encouraged her father by her caresses, till
he mounted his mule to return to the castle at dinner-time, and she
promised to come early in the afternoon to follow up the stroke he was
to give. She had never seen him falter before,--he had followed out his
policy with a clear head and unsparing hand,--but now that Berenger's
character was better known to him, and the crisis long delayed had come
so suddenly before his eyes, his whole powers seemed to reel under the
alternative.

The dinner-bell clanged as he arrived at the castle, and the prisoners
were marched into the hall, bo