A wild desire filled her heart to start from her seat and cry out,-- "It is impossible for this marriage to take place, for that Norbert was her affianced husband in the sight of Heaven, and that he was bound to her by the strongest of all links, that of crime." But by a gigantic effort she controlled herself, and remained motionless, pallid as a spectre, but with a forced smile on her lips, and with unparalleled audacity made a little sign to one of her female friends, which plainly meant, "This is, indeed, something unexpected." All her mind was concentrated to preserve a calm and unmoved aspect.

The singing of the choir seemed to die away, the strong odor of the incense almost overpowered her, and she felt that unless the service soon came to an end, she must fall insensible from her chair.

At last the priest turned again to the congregation and droned out the _Ita missa est_, and all was over.

Diana grasped the arm of her maid and forced her away, without saying a word.

As she reached home, a servant ran up to her with a face upon which agitation was strongly painted.
"Ah, mademoiselle," gasped he, "such a frightful calamity.