Camors could not reach his secretary to strangle him; so he resolved to pay him.  He not only sent him all arrears of salary, but a large sum in addition as a testimonial of his sympathy and good wishes.

This, however, was a simple precaution; for the Count apprehended nothing more from the venomous reptile so far beneath him, after he had once shaken it off.  Seeing him deprived of the only weapon he could use against him, he felt safe.  Besides, he had lost the only interest he could desire to subserve, for he knew M. Vautrot had done him the compliment of courting his Wife.

And he really esteemed him a little less low, after discovering this gentlemanly taste!

CHAPTER XVIII

ONE GLEAM OF HOPE

It required on the part of M. de Camors, this morning, an exertion of all his courage to perform his duty as a gentleman in going to receive Madame de Tecle at the station.  But courage had been for some time past his sole remaining virtue; and this at least he sought never to lose.  He received, then, most gracefully his mother-in-law, robed in her mourning attire.  She was surprised at not seeing her daughter with him.  He informed her that she had been a little indisposed since the preceding evening.  Notwithstanding the precautions he took in his language and by his smile, he could not prevent Madame de Tecle from feeling a lively alarm.

He did not pretend, however, entirely to reassure her.  Under his reserved and measured replies, she felt the presentiment of some disaster.  After first pressing him with many questions, she kept silent during the rest of the drive.

The young Countess, to spare her mother the first shock, had quitted her bed; and the poor child had even put a little rouge on her pale cheeks.  M. de Camors himself opened for Madame de Tecle the door of her daughter’s chamber, and then withdrew.

The young woman raised herself with difficulty from her couch, and her mother took her in her arms.

All that passed between them at first was a silent interchange of mutual caresses.  Then the mother seated herself near her daughter, drew her head on her bosom, and looked into the depths of her eyes.

“What is the matter?” she said, sadly.

“Oh, nothing—­nothing hopeless! only you must love your little Mary more than ever.  Will you not?”

“Yes; but why?”

“I must not worry you; and I must not wrong myself either—­you know why!”

“Yes; but I implore you, my darling, to tell me.”

“Very well; I will tell you everything; but, mother, you must be brave as I am.”

She buried her head lower still on her mother’s breast, and recounted to her, in a low voice, without looking up once, the terrible revelation which had been made to her, and which her husband’s avowal had confirmed.