"I am sorry, my Lady, to seem to think ill of my own kin," muttered the woman dejectedly, "but--" "Think no more of it! You have done your duty. Now leave the matter to me, and--thank you, Marie!" When, however, the old nurse had gone, all pretense of lightness faded from the face of the Governor's daughter, and, opening the bit of paper, once more she scrutinized it swiftly, intently. "To-morrow--Monastery St. Ranu--" she read. "Yes; it must mean St. Ranulphe--where we are going. And where Beppo knew we were going! Beppo, she went down on the beach with!" Again she studied the fragment, striving to make out a word that had been blotted and was almost illegible. She frowned as she endeavored to decipher it. "Lady E." She gave an exclamation. "That refers, of course, to-- But why?" She kept asking herself the question. "Why?" she repeated, when suddenly the brown eyes widened--changed; a new light shone in their depths. "It must be they intend to--what else?" The sound of horns--signal for the party to gather--broke upon the air, and, nervously crushing in her palm the piece of the message, she stepped to the table, to the untasted breakfast. Like one in a dream, who yet feels the need for haste, she poured out the coffee; with unsteady hand raised the cup and drank; started to serve herself again; as if forgetful of the impulse, paused. "And I?" she said with deeper breath. "To ride to the ambush they have so cleverly planned? Allow myself to be taken prisoner by these desperate men? No; no; I could not! And yet--" A trampling of horses' hoofs in the court below interrupted. "They are ready to start!" Uncertainly she lifted her head; looked around her; then mechanically stepped forward and left the room. A scene of animation greeted her in the court, alive with lords and ladies, for the most part already in the saddle and waiting. "Hail to Diana, who will lead us in the forests!" "Fair nymph, let us away!" and the Marquis extended his hand. With a seemingly merry nod she acknowledged their greetings; put out a foot, and lightly sprang to her place on the back of the nervous thoroughbred. But ere giving the signal to start, the girl's glance swung around to a window opposite, where stood an austere figure, imperturbably looking down to watch them ride off.