Valerie was the first to speak.
"Well, you insisted upon this interview. Now you have it. What do you want of me?"
"I want you to leave the Duke of Hereward," he answered, sternly.
"You are right, so far. But the Duke of Hereward has saved me the trouble of taking the initiative step. He has left me. I shall never see him, more."
"How! What!" exclaimed de Volaski, starting up.
"The Duke of Hereward left for Algiers last night. I shall not remain here to receive him when he returns."
"You told him, then, and he has left you? Good!"
"No, I have not told him; he knows nothing—not even that he has left me forever. Business of a financial nature connected with his duties as executor of my father's estates, takes him to Algiers for a few weeks. During his absence I shall make arrangements for leaving this house forever."
"Valerie, where will you go?" he inquired, in a more softened tone.
"I do not know—not with you that is certain. You were quite right when you said that I could not live with either—that a single life was the only possible one for me. I feel that it is so, and I hope that it will be a short one."