Prisoners. . . . Why? And these
two women alone in this old chateau, a house party. There lay
below all this some deep design.
Should he warn his friend? Indeed, as yet, of what had he to
warn him? To discover Madame to Fitzgerald would be to close the
entrance to this labyrinth which he desired to explore. How
would Madame act, now that she knew he possessed her secret?
Into many channels he passed, but all these were blind, and led
him to no end. Madame had a purpose; to discover what this
purpose was Fitzgerald must remain in ignorance. What a woman!
She resembled one of those fabulous creatures of medieval days.
And why was the countess on the scene, and what was her part in
this invisible game?
He finished his cigar and lit another; but the second cigar
solved no more than the first. Mademoiselle of the Veil! He knew
now what she meant; having asked her to lift her veil, she had
said, "Something terrible would happen." At last he, too, sought
bed, but he did not sleep so soundly as did Fitzgerald.
Ten days of this charming captivity passed; there was a thicker
carpet of leaves on the ground, and new distances began to show
mistily through the dismantling forest.
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