.

PIERRE RETURNS.
By a wave of her hand she dismissed Savinien, who, abashed, went out with Marechal.

Left alone, she seated herself at her secretary's desk, and taking the pile of letters she signed them.

The pen flew in her fingers, and on the paper was displayed her name, written in large letters in a man's handwriting.
She had been occupied thus for about a quarter of an hour when Marechal reappeared.

Behind him came a stout thickset man of heavy build, and gorgeously dressed.