The information which he brought back to Diane was far from reassuring. The young Comte de Montgommery was always the same,—moody and anxious and gloomy. The good nurse could not speak of him that her eyes did not fill with tears, and her cheeks lose their color.
Diane hesitated fora long while. Finally, one morning during this same month of June she took a decided step in order to put an end to her dread.
She wrapped herself in a very modest cloak, hid her face under a veil, and left the Louvre at an hour when people were scarcely stirring there, accompanied by André alone, with the purpose of visiting Gabriel at his house.
Since he avoided her and made no sign, she would go to him.
Surely a sister might visit her brother! Indeed, was it not her duty to warn him or console him?
Unfortunately, all the courage which it had cost Diane to resolve upon that step was to be in vain.
Gabriel also selected the lonely hours of the early morning for his wanderings, which he had by no means abandoned; and when Diane knocked with trembling hand at the door of his house, he had already been gone more than half an hour.
Should she await his return? It was always uncertain, and a too long absence from the Louvre might expose Diane to slander.
But no matter; she determined to wait at least until the expiration of the time she had set aside for the visit.
She inquired for Aloyse, for she also desired to see her, and question her with her own lips.