The Chevalier was never asleep or alone when they knocked at the door of his cabin.
Each day D'Herouville approached the Chevalier when the latter was on deck.
"You are improving, Monsieur ?" was the set inquiry.
"I am gaining every hour, Monsieur," always returned the invalid.
"That is well;" and then D'Herouville would seek some other part of the ship.

He ignored Victor as though he were not on board.
"Victor, you have not yet told me who the woman in the grey mask was," said the Chevalier.
"Bah!" said Victor, with fictitious nonchalance.
"She is fleeing from some one ?" "That may be." "Who is she ?" directly.
"I regret that I must leave you in the dark, Paul." "But you said that you knew something of her history; and you can not know that without knowing her name." Victor remained silent.
"Somehow," went on the Chevalier, "that grey mask continually intrudes into my dreams." "That is because you have been ill, Paul." "Is she some prince's light-o'-love ?" "She is no man's light-o'-love.

Do not question me further.

I may tell you nothing.

She is a fugitive from the equivocal justice of France." "Politics ?" "Politics." "She comes from a good family ?" "So high that you would laugh were I to tell you." "As she left the private assembly that night I caught the odor of vervain.