had at last aroused La Valliere's attention, though but slowly so. As the noise, however, continued, as it forced itself upon the attention, and recalled the poor girl from her dreams of happiness to the sad reality of life, she arose in a state of utter bewilderment, though beautiful in her disorder, saying: "Some one is waiting, for above--Louis, Louis, do you not hear?" "Well! and am I not waiting for you, also?" said the king, with infinite tenderness of tone. "Let others henceforth wait for you." But she gently shook her head, as she replied, "Concealed happiness ... concealed power ... my pride should be silent as my heart." The noise was again resumed. "I hear Montalais's voice," she said, and she hurried up the staircase; the king followed her, unable to let her leave his sight, and covering her hand with his kisses. "Yes, yes," repeated La Valliere, who had passed half-way through the opening, "Yes, it is Montalais who is calling me; something important must have happened." "Go, then, dearest love," said the king, "but return quickly." "No, no, not to-day, sire! Adieu, adieu!" she said, as she stooped down once more to embrace her lover, and then escaped. Montalais was, in fact, waiting for her, very pale and agitated. "Quick, quick! he is coming!" she said. "Who--who is coming?" "Raoul," murmured Montalais. "It is I--I," said a joyous voice upon the last steps of the grand staircase. La Valliere uttered a terrible shriek, and threw herself back. "I am here, dear Louise," said Raoul, running toward her. "I knew but too well that you had not ceased to love; me." La Valliere, with a gesture, partly of extreme terror, and partly as if invoking a curse, attempted to speak, but could not articulate one word. "No, no!" she said, as she fell into Montalais's arms, murmuring: "Do not touch me, do not come near me." Montalais made a sign to Raoul, who stood almost petrified at the door, and did not even attempt to advance another step into the room. Then, looking toward the side of the room where the screen was, she exclaimed: "Imprudent girl, she has not even closed the trap-door."