At the top of the staircase she paused and fixed her dry, sad eyes upon Newman.

"Be very easy with her," she said; "she is most unhappy!" Then she went on to Madame de Cintre's apartment; Newman, perplexed and alarmed, followed her rapidly.

Mrs.Bread threw open the door, and Newman pushed back the curtain at the farther side of its deep embrasure.

In the middle of the room stood Madame de Cintre; her face was pale and she was dressed for traveling.

Behind her, before the fire-place, stood Urbain de Bellegarde, looking at his finger-nails; near the marquis sat his mother, buried in an arm-chair, and with her eyes immediately fixing themselves upon Newman.