The blow came at last, and was more unexpected and terrible than she had anticipated.  On the afternoon of the 26th of October, as Diana was gazing from her window, an excited crowd rushed into the courtyard of the Chateau, followed by four men bearing a litter covered with a sheet, under which could be distinguished the rigid limbs of a dead body, while a cruel crimson stain upon one side of the white covering too plainly showed that some one had met with a violent death.

The hideous sight froze Diana with terror, and it was impossible for her to leave the window or quit the object on the litter, which seemed to have a terrible fascination for her.  That very morning her husband, accompanied by his friend the Baron de Clinchain, Montlouis, and a servant named Ludovic, had gone out for a day’s shooting.  It was evident that something had happened to one of the party; which of them could it be?  The doubt was not of very long duration; for at that moment her husband entered the courtyard, supported by M. de Clinchain and Ludovic.  His face was deadly pale, and he seemed scarcely able to drag one leg after the other.  The dead man therefore must be Montlouis.  She need no longer plot and scheme for the dismissal of the secretary, for his tongue had been silenced for ever.

A ray of comfort dawned in Diana’s heart at this idea, and gave her the strength to descend the staircase.  Halfway down she met M. de Clinchain, who was ascending.  He seized her by the arm, and said hoarsely,—­

“Go back, madame, go back!”

“But tell me what has happened.”

“A terrible calamity.  Go back to your room, I beg of you.  Your husband will be here presently;” and, as Octave appeared, he absolutely pushed her into her own room.

Octave followed, and, extending his arms, pressed his wife closely to his breast, bursting as he did so into a passion of sobs.

“Ah!” cried M. de Clinchain joyously, “he is saved.  See, he weeps; I had feared for his reason.”

After many questions and incoherent answers, Madame de Mussidan at last arrived at the fact that her husband had shot Montlouis by accident.  Diana believed this story, but it was far from the truth.  Montlouis had met his death at her hands quite as much as the Duke de Champdoce had done.  He had died because he was the possessor of a fatal secret.

This was what had really occurred.  After lunch, Octave, who had drunk rather freely, began to rally Montlouis regarding his mysterious movements, and to assert that some woman must be at the bottom of them.  At first Montlouis joined in the laugh; but at length M. de Mussidan became too personal in remarks regarding the woman his secretary loved, and Montlouis responded angrily.  This influenced his master’s temper, and he went on to say that he could no longer permit such doings, and he reproached his secretary for risking his present and future for a woman who was worthy neither of love nor respect, and who was notoriously unfaithful to him.  Montlouis heard this last taunt with compressed lips and a deep cloud upon his brow.