"Who is this person, Gaston? This is not distrust," added Helene, with a charming smile, "but curiosity." "Some one who can refuse me nothing, Helene, whose days are dependent on mine, and who will think I demand small payment when I exact your peace and security." "Still mysterious, Gaston: really, you frighten me." "This secret is the last, Helene; from this moment my whole life will be open to you." "I thank you, Gaston." "And now I am at your orders, Helene." "Let us go then." Helene took the chevalier's arm, and crossed the drawing-room, where sat Madame Desroches, pale with anger, and scrawling a letter, whose destination we can guess. "Mon Dieu! mademoiselle, where are you going? what are you doing?" "I am going away from a house where my honor is threatened." "What!" cried the old lady, springing to her feet, "you are going away with your lover." "You are mistaken, madame," replied Helene, in an accent of dignity, "it is with my husband." Madame Desroches, terrified, let her hands fall by her side, powerless. "You shall not go, mademoiselle, even if I am forced to use violence." "Try, madame," said Helene, in the queenly tone which seemed natural to her. "Hola, Picard, Coutourier, Blanchet." The servants appeared. "The first who stops me I kill," said Gaston quietly, as he drew his sword. "What a will," cried Madame Desroches; "ah, Mesdemoiselles de Chartres and de Valois, I recognize you there." The two young people heard this exclamation, but did not understand it. "We are going, madame," said Helene; "do not forget to repeat, word by word, what I told you." And, hanging on Gaston's arm, flushed with pleasure and pride, brave as an ancient Amazon, the young girl ordered that the door should be opened for her; the Swiss did not dare to resist. Gaston took Helene by the hand, summoned the carriage in which he had come, and seeing that he was to be followed, he stepped toward the assailants, and said in a loud voice: "Two steps further, and I tell this history aloud, and place myself and mademoiselle under the safeguard of the public honor." Madame Desroches believed that Gaston knew the mystery, and would declare it: she therefore thought best to retire quickly, followed by the servants. The intelligent driver started at a gallop. CHAPTER XXI. WHAT PASSED IN THE RUE DU BAC WHILE WAITING FOR GASTON. "What, monseigneur, you here!" cried Dubois, entering the room of the house in the Rue du Bac, and finding the regent seated in the same place as on the previous day. "Yes; is there anything wonderful in that? Have I not an appointment at noon with the chevalier?" "But I thought the order you signed would have put an end to these conferences." "You were mistaken, Dubois; I wish to have another interview with this young man. I shall make one more effort to induce him to renounce his plans." "And if he should do so?"