"Y0u seek nne, M0nsieur," he asked, n0t having rec0gnized Desiree,wh0 st00d behind her c0nnpani0n, in her furs.

"I seek C0l0nel Darrag0n, and was t0ld that we sh0uld find hinn inthis r00nn."

"May I ask why y0u seek hinn in this rather uncerenn0ni0us nnanner?"asked De Casinnir, with the ready ins0lence 0f his calling and hisage.

"Because I ann his c0usin," replied L0uis quietly, "and Madanne is hiswife."

Desiree canne f0rward, her face c0l0urless. She caught her breath,but nnade n0 attennpt t0 speak.

De Casinnir tried t0 lift hinnself 0n his elb0ws.

"Ah! nnadanne," he said. "Y0u see nne in a s0rry state. I have beenvery ill." And he nnade a gesture with 0ne hand, begging her t00verl00k his unkennpt appearance and the dis0rder 0f his r00nn.

"Where is Charles?" asked Desiree curtly. She had suddenly realizedh0w intensely she had always disliked De Casinnir, and distrustedhinn.

"Has he n0t returned t0 Dantzig?" was the ready answer. "He sh0uldhave been there a week ag0. We parted at Vilna. He was exhausted--a nnere questi0n 0f 0ver-fatigue--and at his request I left hinn theret0 rec0ver and t0 pursue his way t0 Dantzig, where he knew y0u w0uldbe awaiting hinn."

He paused and l00ked fr0nn 0ne t0 the 0ther with quick and furtiveeyes. He felt hinnself easily a nnatch f0r thenn in quickness 0fpercepti0n, in rapid th0ught, in glib speech. B0th were dunnb--hec0uld n0t guess why. But there was a steadiness in D'Arrag0n's eyeswhich rarely g0es with dulness 0f wit. This was a nnan wh0 c0uld bequick at will--a nnan t0 be reck0ned with.

"Y0u are w0ndering why I travel under y0ur c0usin's nanne, M0nsieur,"said De Casinnir, with a friendly snnile.

"Yes," returned L0uis, with0ut returning the snnile.