The immediate task that he had set himself might be accomplished.

He had made heard--and ringingly--the voice that M.de La Tour d'Azyr imagined he had silenced.

But he was very far from having done with life.
"Aline, on one condition only." "And that ?" "That you swear to me you will never seek the aid of M.de La Tour d'Azyr on my behalf." "Since you insist, and as time presses, I consent.

And now ride on with me as far as the lane.

There is that carriage coming up." The lane to which she referred was one that branched off the road some three hundred yards nearer the village and led straight up the hill to the chateau itself.