"André knows my purpose," said Diane. "Oh, if you knew how proud he is to be in your service. He must be all ready now, and I have only a few last instructions to give him. If you go now and take your leave of the good Peuquoys, André will be with you before you quit Calais." "I will take him with very great pleasure," said Gabriel; "I shall at least have some one with whom I can sometimes converse about you." "I thought of that," said Madame de Castro, with a slight blush. "But now, adieu," she said earnestly; "we must say adieu." "Oh, not 'adieu,'" replied Gabriel; "not that sad word which means a long separation; not 'adieu,' but _au revoir_!" "Alas!" said Diane, "when and under what circumstances shall we meet again! If the riddle of our destiny be solved contrary to our wishes, will it not be better that we should never see each other more?" "Oh, don't say so, Diane!" cried Gabriel; "don't say so! Besides, who but myself can inform you of the result, whether it be disastrous or happy?" "Ah, _Dieu_!" Diane replied with a shudder, "it seems to me as if, whether it were happy or disastrous, I should die of joy or grief simply upon hearing your lips speak the words." "But how shall I let you know?" asked Gabriel. "Wait one moment," replied Diane. She drew a gold ring from her huger, and took from a chest the nun's veil which she had worn at the Benedictine convent at St. Quentin. "Listen, Gabriel," said she, in a tone of deep solemnity as she gave them to him; "as it is probable that everything will be settled before I reach Paris, send André to meet me. If God declares himself for us, he will bring back this wedding-ring to the Vicomtesse de Montgommery; but if our hopes are blighted, let him bring this nun's veil to Sister Bénie." "Oh, let me fall at your feet and adore you as one of the angels from heaven!" cried the young man, touched to the very soul by this affecting proof of her great love. "No, Gabriel, no, rise from your knees," Diane replied; "let us be steadfast and dignified in God's sight. Press upon my lips a pure brotherly kiss, as I will a sisterly one upon yours, thereby endowing you with faith and strength, so far as my power can go." In silence they exchanged a sacred, sorrowful kiss. "And now, my dear," continued Diane, "let us part, for it is time; not saying adieu, since you dread the word, but _au revoir_, to meet again in this world or the next!" "_Au revoir_, _au revoir_!" murmured Gabriel. He clasped Diane to his breast in a close embrace, and fastened a long, yearning gaze upon her, as if to draw from her lovely eyes the strength of which he was so much in need. At last, upon a sorrowful but expressive motion which she made to him, he released her; and placing the ring on his finger and the veil in his bosom, he said once more in a stifled voice,-- "_Au revoir_, Diane!" "Gabriel, _au revoir_!" Diane replied, with a hopeful gesture. Gabriel fled as if he were a madman.