But through one of the hall windows Adrienne caught sight of a tall figure and she knew it was not the little notary. "Open immediately, Pierre. I believe, oh I believe it is the Count." It was, and, as Guy strode in, he looked puzzled and perplexed. "Are you in a state of siege here?" he asked. "I have never known this front door locked and barred before five o'clock at this time of year." Adrienne sprang forward and seized hold of his hand: "Oh, Cousin Guy, how glad I am to see you! I might have known you would not be too late, but you have driven it very close." "I started directly I got your letter, but our boat was delayed, and I have had other difficulties to overcome. How are you all? I hoped to see you here, but was not certain. I was sorry to hear about the General." "Yes," said Adrienne, drawing a long breath; "a lot has happened since you went; but oh, I can think of nothing but of your return. Everything will be all right now; why did I doubt it?" They had no further talk together, for the Countess suddenly appeared. She was as glad and relieved as Adrienne was, but in her own way she did not let him know it. "Why have you stayed away so long? Everything has gone from bad to worse. And now Monsieur Bouverie is turning me out of this, and says he is coming to live here himself. Imagine Madame Bouverie in this salon dispensing hospitality. What am I to do? Not a penny to spend. What are you going to do?" "Nothing to-night, ma mère. To-morrow we'll have a good talk and see if we can't right things." His eyes were on Adrienne as he spoke. She looked in her black gown very fair and sweet. With a pretty grace she was presiding over the tea-tray. Happiness shone in her grey eyes, but she noted that there were weary lines upon her cousin's face, and though he leant back easily in his chair and began to talk of trifles, there was grim determination in the set of his lips, as if he were anticipating an unpleasant struggle with his stepmother's lawyer. "Where have you been all this time?" demanded the Countess. He smiled at her. "I've been scouring British Columbia and a good bit of Canada for something I wanted. And I found it at last." "Some new machines for farming, I suppose," said his stepmother. She expressed no further interest in his doings, but asked him if he were putting up at the farm. "Yes; I have only just come up to report myself to you. I must not dine here to-night. I want to see Grougan, and have an appointment with him at six." "That's your lawyer from Orleans? If he had been my lawyer instead of Bouverie, we should not have come to such a pass." "But," said Guy with raised eyebrows, "I begged you to have him three years ago, and you would not." "How could I when Monsieur Bouverie held everything of mine in his hands and understood it all so well?" Guy relapsed into silence. Then when he had finished his tea, he said to Adrienne: