"Come into my parlor, child. The Duke of Hereward has arrived."
CHAPTER XLVII.
THE END OF A LOST LIFE.
The Duke of Hereward knew nothing of his wife's presence in the Convent of St. Rosalie.
On his arrival, soon after five o'clock, he was met by the portress, who ushered him into the receiving parlor and sent to warn the abbess of his presence.
The abbess dispatched a message to the surgeon in attendance upon John Scott, and then sought out the young duchess to inform her of her husband's arrival.
Meantime Dr. Dubourg hurried down to the receiving-parlor to see the Duke of Hereward. They were strangers to each other, so the portress introduced them.
"I hope your patient is better, Monsieur le Docteur," said the duke, when the first salutations were over.
"No, I regret to say. There is, indeed, no hope. The poor man has been sinking since morning. He is most anxious to see your grace, before he dies, and that very anxiety, I think, has kept him up," gravely replied the physician.