A few minutes after her exit, Sir Lemuel Levison entered. Finding his daughter almost in tears, he naturally inquired: "What on earth is the matter with you, my child?" "Nothing, papa! At least nothing that should trouble me!" "But what is it?" "Well then, papa, dear, here has been a foolish girl--_very_ foolish, I think she must be, going about, intruding even into the Castle, and telling all that will listen to her, that _she_ is betrothed to the Marquis of Arondelle." "Oh! Just as I feared!" muttered the banker, in a tone that instantly riveted the attention of his daughter. "_What_ did you fear, my father?" she inquired, fixing her eyes upon his face. The banker hesitated. His daughter repeated her question: "_What_ did you fear, my dear father?" "Why, just what has happened, my love!" impatiently answered the banker. "That this silly report would reach your ears and give you uneasiness. It _has_ reached you; but do not, I beseech you, let it trouble you!" "There is no truth in it of course, papa?" said Salome, in a tone of entreaty. "No, no, at least none that need concern you. Lord bless my soul, girl, young men will be young men! Arondelle is now about twenty-five years of age. And he was not brought up in a convent, as you were. He has lived for a quarter of a century in the world! Surely, you do not expect that a young man should live as long as that without ever admiring a pretty face, and even telling its owner so, do you?" "I never once thought about that, at all, papa," said Salome, in a mournful tone. "No, I'll warrant you didn't! Well, don't think anything more of it now. And don't expect too much of human nature. In this year of grace there are no saints left alive! Believe that, and accept it, my girl!" CHAPTER VI. A HORRIBLE MYSTERY ON THE WEDDING DAY. On the day before the wedding all the preparations were completed. The grounds around the castle, paradisial in their own natural beauty under this heavenly blue sky of June, were adorned with all that art and taste and wealth could bring to enhance their attractions in honor of the occasion.