When a young man, he was most methodical in his habits; and, as he grew older, this became an absolute mania with him.

When he was twenty, he recorded in his diary the pulsations of his heart, and at forty he added remarks regarding his digestion and general health.
"What a fearful blow!" murmured he; "and to fall at such a moment when I had indulged in a more hearty dinner than usual.

I shall feel it for the next six months, even if it does not kill me outright." Just then M.de Mussidan entered the room, and the excited man ran up to him, exclaiming,-- "For Heaven's sake, Octave, save us both, by cancelling your daughter's engagement with M.de--" The Count laid his hand upon his friend's lips.
"Are you mad ?" said he; "my daughter is here." In obedience to a warning gesture, Sabine left the room; but she had heard enough to fill her heart with agitation and terror.

What engagement was to be cancelled, and how could such a rupture affect her father or his friend?
That there was some mystery, was proved by the question with which the Count had prevented his friend from saying any more.

She was sure that it was the name of M.de Breulh-Faverlay with which the Baron was about to close his sentence, and felt that the destiny of her life was to be decided in the conversation about to take place between her father and his visitor.