And obstinately the same questions returned to her lips, “Where is he now? What is he doing? What is he thinking about? How can he leave us without news? Is it possible that it is a woman who has driven him into the precipice? And, if so, who is that woman?” Very different were Mlle. Gilberte’s thoughts. The great calamity that befell her family had brought about the sudden realization of her hopes. Her father’s disaster had given her an opportunity to test the man she loved; and she had found him even superior to all that she could have dared to dream. The name of Favoral was forever disgraced; but she was going to be the wife of Marius, Marquise de Tregars. And, in the candor of her loyal soul, she accused herself of not taking enough interest in her mother’s grief, and reproached herself for the quivers of joy which she felt within her. “Where is Maxence?” asked Mme. Favoral. “Where is M. de Tregars? Why have they told us nothing of their projects?” “They will, no doubt, come home to dinner,” replied Mlle. Gilberte. So well was she convinced of this, that she had given orders to the servant to have a somewhat better dinner than usual; and her heart was beating at the thought of being seated near Marius, between her mother and her brother. At about six o’clock, the bell rang violently. “There he is!” said the young girl, rising to her feet. But no: it was only the porter, bringing up a summons ordering Mme. Favoral, under penalty of the law, to appear the next day, at one o’clock precisely, before the examining judge, Barban d’Avranchel, at his office in the Palace of Justice. The poor woman came near fainting. “What can this judge want with me? It ought to be forbidden to call a wife to testify against her husband,” she said. “M. de Tregars will tell you what to answer, mamma,” said Mlle. Gilberte. Meantime, seven o’clock came, then eight, and still neither Maxence nor M. de Tregars had come. Both mother and daughter were becoming anxious, when at last, a little before nine, they heard steps in the hall. Marius de Tregars appeared almost immediately. He was pale; and his face bore the trace of the crushing fatigues of the day, of the cares which oppressed him, of the reflections which had been suggested to his mind by the quarrel of which he had nearly been the victim a few moments since. “Maxence is not here?” he asked at once. “We have not seen him,” answered Mlle. Gilberte. He seemed so much surprised, that Mme. Favoral was frightened. “What is the matter again, good God!” she exclaimed. “Nothing, madame,” said M. de Tregars,--“nothing that should alarm you. Compelled, about two hours ago, to part from Maxence, I was to have met him here. Since he has not come, he must have been detained. I know where; and I will ask your permission to run and join him.” He went out; but Mlle. Gilberte followed him in the hall, and, taking his hand,