"I have not been to see Madame de Castro because she has not summoned me," said Gabriel. "I have avoided the Louvre because I had no reason to go there; but to-day a feeling that I cannot resist urges me to go (although my action may result in nothing), for Madame de Castro wishes to see me. I have sworn, Aloyse, to allow my own will to slumber, and to leave everything to God and my destiny, and I am going to the Louvre at once." Thus Diane's step bade fair to produce the opposite effect from that contemplated by her. CHAPTER VIII THE IMPRUDENCE OF PRECAUTION Gabriel met with no opposition to his entrance to the Louvre. Since the taking of Calais the name of the young Comte de Montgommery had been heard too often for any one to think of refusing him leave to enter the suite of apartments occupied by Madame de Castro. Diane, with one of her women, was engaged at the moment on some fancy-work. Very frequently she involuntarily let her hands fall in her lap, and would sit and dream about her interview with Aloyse that morning. Suddenly André entered in great bewilderment. "Madame, Monsieur le Vicomte d'Exmès!" he announced. (The boy had not ceased to call his old master by that name.) "Who? Monsieur d'Exmès! here!" Diane repeated, overwhelmed. "Yes, Madame, he is close behind me," said the page. "Here he is." Gabriel appeared at the door, doing his best to control his emotion. He bowed low to Madame de Castro, who, in her confusion, did not at first return his salute. However, she dismissed the page and her maid with a gesture, and they were left alone. Then they approached, and their hands met in a cordial grasp. For some seconds they remained with hands joined, gazing at each other in silence. "You thought best to come to my house, Diane," said Gabriel at last, in a deep voice. "You wished to see me, to speak with me; so I have hastened to you." "Did it need that action on my part, Gabriel, to apprise you that I wanted to see you? Did you not know it well enough without that?" "Diane," Gabriel replied with his sad smile, "I have given sufficient proofs of courage heretofore, so I may venture to confess that in coming to the Louvre, I am afraid." "Afraid of whom?" asked Diane, who was herself afraid of the effect of her own question. "Afraid of you!--of myself!" replied Gabriel. "And that is why you chose rather to forget our former affection?--I speak of the legitimate and sanctified side of it," she hastened to add. "I should have preferred to forget everything, I confess, Diane, rather than put foot inside the Louvre. But alas! I could not. And the proof--" "The proof?"