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certainly an asylum；but where were the keepers？
It was getting darker in the wood； he made haste to recover his
horse； to drag it to the spring； and there bathe its shoulder in
the water mixed with whiskey taken from his flask。 His saddle…bag
contained enough bread and meat for his own supper； he would camp
for the night where he was； and with the first light of dawn make
his way back through the wood whence he came。 As the light slowly
faded from the wood he rolled himself in his saddle…blanket and lay
down。
But not to sleep。 His strange position； the accident to his horse；
an unusual irritation over the incident of the frightened
servants；trivial as it might have been to any other man；and；
above all； an increasing childish curiosity； kept him awake and
restless。 Presently he could see also that it was growing lighter
beyond the edge of the wood； and that the rays of a young crescent
moon； while it plunged the forest into darkness and impassable
shadow； evidently was illuminating the hollow below。 He threw
aside his blanket； and made his way to the hedge again。 He was
right； he could see the quaint； formal lines of the old garden more
distinctly；the broad terrace； the queer； dark bulk of the house；
with lights now gleaming from a few of its open windows。
Before one of these windows opening on the terrace was a small；
white； draped table with fruits； cups； and glasses； and two or
three chairs。 As he gazed curiously at these new signs of life and
occupation； he became aware of a regular and monotonous tap upon
the stone flags of the terrace。 Suddenly he saw three figures
slowly turn the corner of the terrace at the further end of the
building； and walk towards the table。 The central figure was that
of an elderly woman； yet tall and stately of carriage； walking with
a stick； whose regular tap he had heard； supported on the one side
by an elderly Cure in black soutaine； and on the other by a tall
and slender girl in white。
They walked leisurely to the other end of the terrace； as if
performing a regular exercise； and returned； stopping before the
open French window； where； after remaining in conversation a few
moments； the elderly lady and her ecclesiastical companion entered。
The young girl sauntered slowly to the steps of the terrace； and
leaning against a huge vase as she looked over the garden； seemed
lost in contemplation。 Her face was turned towards the wood； but
in quite another direction from where he stood。
There was something so gentle； refined； and graceful in her figure；
yet dominated by a girlish youthfulness of movement and gesture；
that Alkali Dick was singularly interested。 He had probably never
seen an ingenue before； he had certainly never come in contact with
a girl of that caste and seclusion in his brief Parisian experience。
He was sorely tempted to leave his hedge and try to obtain a nearer
view of her。 There was a fringe of lilac bushes running from the
garden up the slope； if he could gain their shadows； he could
descend into the garden。 What he should do after his arrival he had
not thought； but he had one ideahe knew not whythat if he
ventured to speak to her he would not be met with the abrupt rustic
terror he had experienced at the hands of the servants。 SHE was not
of that kind！ He crept through the hedge； reached the lilacs； and
began the descent softly and securely in the shadow。 But at the
same moment she arose； called in a youthful voice towards the open
window； and began to descend the steps。 A half…expostulating reply
came from the window； but the young girl answered it with the
laughing； capricious confidence of a spoiled child； and continued
her way into the garden。 Here she paused a moment and hung over a
rose…tree； from which she gathered a flower； afterwards thrust into
her belt。 Dick paused； too； half…crouching； half…leaning over a
lichen…stained； cracked stone pedestal from which the statue had
long been overthrown and forgotten。
To his surprise； however； the young girl； following the path to the
lilacs； began leisurely to ascend the hill； swaying from side to
side with a youthful movement； and swinging the long stalk of a
lily at her side。 In another moment he would be discovered！ Dick
was frightened； his confidence of the moment before had all gone；
he would fly；and yet； an exquisite and fearful joy kept him
motionless。 She was approaching him； full and clear in the
moonlight。 He could see the grace of her delicate figure in the
simple white frock drawn at the waist with broad satin ribbon； and
its love…knots of pale blue ribbons on her shoulders； he could see
the coils of her brown hair； the pale； olive tint of her oval
cheek； the delicate； swelling nostril of her straight； clear…cut
nose； he could even smell the lily she carried in her little hand。
Then； suddenly； she lifted her long lashes； and her large gray eyes
met his。
Alas！ the same look of vacant horror came into her eyes； and fixed
and dilated their clear pupils。 But she uttered no outcry；there
was something in her blood that checked it； something that even
gave a dignity to her recoiling figure； and made Dick flush with
admiration。 She put her hand to her side； as if the shock of the
exertion of her ascent had set her heart to beating； but she did
not faint。 Then her fixed look gave way to one of infinite
sadness； pity； and pathetic appeal。 Her lips were parted； they
seemed to be moving； apparently in prayer。 At last her voice came；
wonderingly； timidly； tenderly： 〃Mon Dieu！ c'est donc vous？ Ici？
C'est vous que Marie a crue voir！ Que venez…vous faire ici； Armand
de Fontonelles？ Repondez！〃
Alas； not a word was comprehensible to Dick； nor could he think of
a word to say in reply。 He made an uncouth； half…irritated； half…
despairing gesture towards the wood he had quitted； as if to
indicate his helpless horse； but he knew it was meaningless to the
frightened yet exalted girl before him。 Her little hand crept to
her breast and clutched a rosary within the folds of her dress； as
her soft voice again arose； low but appealingly：
〃Vous souffrez！ Ah； mon Dieu！ Peuton vous secourir？ Moi…meme
mes prieres pourraient elles interceder pour vous？ Je supplierai
le ciel de prendre en pitie l'ame de mon ancetre。 Monsieur le Cure
est la；je lui parlerai。 Lui et ma mere vous viendront en aide。〃
She clasped her hands appealingly before him。
Dick stood bewildered； hopeless； mystified； he had not understood a
word； he could not say a word。 For an instant he had a wild idea
of seizing her hand and leading her to his helpless horse； and then
came what he believed was his salvation；a sudden flash of
recollection that he had seen the word he wanted； the one word that
would explain all； in a placarded notice at the Cirque of a
bracelet that had been LOST；yes； the single word 〃PERDU。〃 He
made a step towards her； and in a voice almost as faint as her own