CHAPTER III

Father and daughter spent the afternoon waiting anxiously for the viscount, but the time passed and Gaspard did not arrive. Laure had changed her dress three times, and M. Levrault began to get impatient. He even went so far as to lose his temper and order his carriage, intending to drive past the viscount's house. While he was grumbHng about his unpunctuaHty, the drawing-room door opened and Gaspard was suddenly announced. He apologised profusely for being so late, and explained that he had been detained by the Count de Kerlandec and the ChevaHer de Barbanpré, who were anxious to inform him that M. Levrault had arrived at his castle. At the first words that fell from Laure's lips he started as though he had been struck by a bullet, and again when, at his request, she had played something for him on the piano, he assumed such a strange manner that M. Levrault asked him the cause of it. He explained that Laure's face and voice reminded him of some one whom he once loved and who was now dead, but one who would live for ever in his heart. Before he left M. Levrault insisted on showing him his castle, coach-houses, kennels, and stables, and ended by inviting him to dine with them on the morrow. " Well, what do you think of him ? " said M. Levrault, as soon as they were alone. ^' I think him very ugly," answered Laure. Oh ! " said her father, " we shall soon get accustomed to his face. Then think of his intelligence, his manners, his courtesy. There is no doubt about it, one is flattered to receive people Hke that in one's house."

However, M. Levrault was not long in discovering that Brittany was not exactly the country he had dreamed of There were plenty of old castles, but they were ail in ruins and none were inhabited. As for society, it seemed

to be limited to three individuals — Montflanquin, Barbanpré, and Kerlandec, for the Levraults saw no one else. As time went on, Gaspard' s manner changed ; he became gloomy, silent, dreamy, and ate nothing — symptoms which did not escape M. Levrault's keen eye. Matters had arrived at this point, when an unexpected incident changed their course entirely. Laure had gone ont for a ride, and in trying to discover a new road for herself she had lost her way. Presently she came to a path which Gaspard had warned her to avoid, saying that it was called the Devil's Road," and led to marshes and swamps. Calling to a Httle girl, she asked her about this path, and was told that it led to her father's farm and to the castle of La Rochelandier. She could not help wondering why Gaspard had deceived her, and, after a few minutes' thought, she gave her horse a eut across the flanks and disappeared down the path.