"Your father went out a couple of hours ago, M. Louis. He left this note for you, which I was to take to the office where you are employed, if you did not return before two o'clock in the afternoon." The young man took the note. It read as follows: * * * * * "MY DEAR SON:--I am in receipt of a few lines from my friend, Ramon, who apprises me of his intention of leaving Dreux in company with his daughter almost simultaneously with his letter. He will, consequently, reach Paris to-day. As he has never been on a railway in his life, and is anxious to try that mode of travel, he will stop at Versailles, and he wishes us to meet him there. We can visit the palace, and afterward come on to Paris together by one of the late trains. "I am to meet Ramon at the Hôtel du Reservoir. If we should leave there to visit the palace before you arrive, you can easily find us. It is understood that this meeting with Mlle. Ramon is not to compromise you in the least. I merely desire that you should take advantage of this opportunity to see the injustice of your prejudice against that young lady. Besides, whatever your plans may be, you must realise that it would be very discourteous to Ramon, one of my most particular friends, to fail to keep the appointment he has made with us. So come, my dear Louis, if only for appearance's sake. "From your father who loves you, and who has but one desire in the world,--your happiness. "A. RICHARD." * * * * * But Louis, in spite of the deference he usually showed to his father's wishes, did not go to Versailles, feeling the utter uselessness of another meeting with Mlle. Ramon, as he was now even more than ever determined to marry Mariette. The discovery of his father's wealth made no change in the industrious habits of Louis, who hastened to the office to perform his usual duties, and apologise for his absence during the morning. A desire to atone for that, as well as the preparation of several important documents, kept him at the office much later than usual. As he was preparing to leave, one of his fellow clerks rushed in excitedly, exclaiming: "Ah, my friend, such a terrible calamity has occurred!" "What has happened?" "There has been a frightful accident on the Versailles railroad." "Good God!" exclaimed Louis, turning pale. "The Paris train was derailed, several cars were telescoped, they took fire, nearly all the passengers were either crushed or burned to death, and--" Louis could wait to hear no more. Forgetting his hat entirely, he rushed out of the office, and, running to a neighbouring cab-stand, he sprang into one of the vehicles, saying to the coachman: "Twenty francs _pourboire_ if you take me to the Versailles railway station at the top of your speed,--and from there, but I don't know yet,--only start, in Heaven's name start at once!" "On the right or left bank of the river, monsieur?" asked the coachman, gathering up the lines.