Abbe Miollens hastened to repair to Cormeilles, where he gave a faithful circumstantial account of his conference with Count Larinski.

He was still warm from the interview, and he gave free vent to the effusions of his enthusiasm.

He struck up a Canticle of Zion in honour of the antique soul, the celestial soul, which had just been revealing to him all its hidden treasures.

M.Moriaz, both astonished and scandalized, observed, dryly: "You are right, this Pole is a prodigy; he should either be canonized or hanged, I do not know which." Antoinette said not a word; she kept her reflections to herself.

She retired to her chamber, where she paced to and fro for some time, uncertain regarding what she was about to do, or, rather more restless than uncertain.