"No," said Gabriel, gloomily, "no, I could not, I ought not, nor would I have attempted even to oppose that step. Providence doubtless kept me at Calais, for my heart would have broken by its helplessness in the face of her sacrificial act; and the poor, dear, afflicted soul which thus gave itself to God's service might have had to suffer more from my presence than she did when left alone at that solemn moment." "Oh, but she was not alone," said Jean. "Of course you were there, Jean, and Babette, and the poor and unfortunate, her devoted friends." "We were not the only ones, Monsieur le Comte," said Jean. "Sister Bénie's mother was also with her." "Who,--Madame de Poitiers?" exclaimed Gabriel. "Yes, Monsieur le Comte, Madame de Poitiers herself, who, on receipt of a letter from her daughter, hastened hither from her retirement at Chaumont-sur-Loire, was present at the ceremonial yesterday, and should be with the new nun at this moment." "Oh!" said Gabriel, in terror, "why did Madame de Castro send for that woman?" "Why, Monseigneur, as she said to Babette, that woman is, after all, her mother." "Alas! I begin to think I ought to have been here yesterday," said Gabriel. "If Madame de Poitiers is here, it can be with no good purpose, nor to fulfil any pious maternal duty. Let us go to the Benedictine convent, if you please, Master Jean. I am in greater haste than ever now to see Madame de Castro, for I fear that she needs me. Come, let us hurry!" Gabriel was shown without objection into the parlor of the convent, where he had been expected since the preceding day. Diane was waiting in the parlor with her mother. Gabriel, upon seeing her once more after so long a separation, was carried away by an irresistible impulse, and fell on his knees, pale and dejected, before the grating which separated them forever from each other. "My sister! my sister!" was all he could say. "My brother!" replied Sister Bénie, softly. A tear rolled slowly down her cheek; but at the same time she smiled as the angels should smile. Gabriel, turning his head slightly, met the gaze of the other Diane, Madame de Poitiers. She was laughing, as demons should laugh. But Gabriel, with careless contempt for her exasperating demeanor, concentrated his regard and his thought entirely upon Sister Bénie. "My sister!" he repeated eagerly, and with bitter anguish. Diane de Poitiers at this point coldly remarked,-- "It is as your sister in Jesus Christ, doubtless, Monsieur, that you call by that title her who yesterday was still Madame de Castro?" "What do you mean, Madame? Great God! what do mean?" asked Gabriel, with a shudder, as he rose to his feet. Diane de Poitiers, without replying directly to his question, addressed her daughter:-- "The time has arrived, my child, I think, to reveal to you the secret of which I spoke yesterday, and which, in my opinion, my bounden duty forbids me to conceal from you any longer."