There remained for Iris a last and infallible means of compelling Bertha and M. de Hansfeld to a secret interview, which must compromise them as regards appearances. When night fell, she would go and tell Bertha that her father, dreadfully alarmed at her sudden departure, had followed her, and that he might not run the risk of meeting De Brévannes, begged her to await him in the _châlet_, or pavilion in which, in the summer time, Madame de Brévannes usually spent her day. This small building, situated in the midst of a clump of trees, was approached by an iron-gate in the park. Nothing could be more probable than that Pierre Raimond should do such a thing: Bertha would go and await him in the summerhouse, where, instead of the old engraver, Arnold would arrive: then, warned by Iris, De Brévannes would go to the spot, and the sequel might be guessed. The third day of her arrival at Brévannes, the Bohemian girl, tired of spying in vain, looked for Bertha, in order to make her the victim of the machination she was plotting, when she saw her coming from the side of the pavilion in question, and behind her, at a short distance, M. de Hansfeld. Iris glided into a clump of holly and thick box-wood bushes, which shaded the park in this spot, and in which was a winding path which went from the chalet to the iron gate of the park. We should say that this building, situated at the angle of the park-walls, consisted of two rooms on the ground-floor. It was about four o'clock--the day very cloudy, and the sky rainy and threatening. At the moment when Iris concealed herself in the thicket Arnold overtook Bertha. Madame de Brévannes started at the sight of the prince, and turned several paces back to return to the chateau; but Arnold, taking her hand with an air of entreaty, said to her,-- "At last, then, I may have one moment's conversation with you--after two days! It would really seem as if you avoided me--me so happy at this unexpected journey. Really, Bertha, I can scarcely credit my happiness!" "I entreat you to leave me!--I have avoided you because I am afraid----" "Afraid of what, _mon Dieu?_" "Monsieur de Hansfeld, you love me--do you not?" exclaimed Bertha, suddenly. "Love you!--yes, indeed!" "Well, then, do not refuse me the only favour I have ever asked of you." "What do you mean?" "Go!" "Go! and I have only just arrived!--when----" "I say, if you love me, you will seize on the first opportunity, good or bad, to leave this house." "I really do not comprehend! Why, when your husband----" "Oh! do not pronounce his name here!" "Take courage--I share your scruples--I am here in this house--I will not breathe one word of love to you--I will say nothing that your father might not hear if he were present. What I request, Bertha, is, but some of those kind and tender words which you addressed to your brother Arnold in those long conversations which we three used to have at your father's."