one. "M. de Chalusse was not dead," said he, "when M. de Coralth
and M. de Valorsay decided on this plan of ridding themselves of
me. Consequently, Mademoiselle Marguerite was still an heiress."

"That's true; but the very day after the commission of the crime,
the accomplices must have discovered that it could do them no
good; so, why have they still persisted in their scheme?"

Pascal tried to find a satisfactory answer, but failed.

"There must be some iniquitous mystery in this affair, which
neither you nor I suspect," remarked the baron.

"That is exactly what my mother told me."

"Ah! that's Madame Ferailleur's opinion? Then it is a good one.
Come, let us reason a little. Mademoiselle Marguerite loved you,
you say?"

"Yes."

"And she has suddenly broken off the engagement?"

"She wrote to me that the Count de Chalusse extorted from her a
promise on his death-bed, that she would marry the Marquis de
Valorsay."

The baron sprang to his feet. "Stop," he cried--"stop! We now
have a clue to the truth, perhaps. Ah! so Mademoiselle Marguerite
has written to you that M. de Chalusse commanded her to marry the