"You are right, you only do her justice!" rejoined Maurice.
"What course do you propose to ado—op—opt?" inquired M. de Bois, with a perfectly natural air of friendly interest.
"I hardly know what to do. I should be thankful for any advice. I shall first visit the Prefecture at Rennes, to see if she obtained a passport. She could not surely run the risk of attempting to travel without one. If the passport be for Great Britain, I may go to Scotland. Possibly she may have changed her mind, and accepted Lady Vivian's offer,—do you not think so?"
"It does not appear to me likely. She definitely decli—i—ined."
"Did she tell you so? Did she speak to you on the subject?" asked Maurice, hastily.
For the first time during the interview, M. de Bois betrayed a slight disquietude, but he quickly collected himself and answered,—
"I heard Lady Vivian speak to Mademoiselle Bertha of the offer she had made her cousin, and after that, Mademoiselle Mad—ad—adeleine told me she had declined the prop—op—oposition. But, if you imagine she has changed her mind, would not a letter to Lady Vivian answer every pur—ur—urpose?"
"No; if she should be there, I must see her, and use arguments which would have no force upon paper. She must be there! Where else could she be? I will start for Scotland to-night. Now I must bid you adieu."
"If you are going back to the château, I will accompany you. I must make my adieux to the ladies. I leave for Paris to-morrow."
"Indeed! Do you make a long stay?"