Part 160 (1/2)

”How can I avoid interesting myself for one who is so beautiful and so amiable? Are you not the beloved of one of nan! Oh, hoill thank you!”

”I hope so Now, then, all is agreed; let us go down”

”You are going into the garden?”

”Yes”

”Go along this corridor, down a little staircase, and you are in it”

”Excellent; thank you!”

And the to smiles

Milady had told the truth--her head was confused, for her ill-arranged plans clashed one another like chaos She required to be alone that she uely the future; but she stood in need of a little silence and quiet to give all her ideas, as yet confused, a distinct foret Mme Bonacieux away, and convey her to a place of safety, and there, if an to have doubts of the issue of this terrible duel, in which her enemies showed as much perseverance as she did animosity

Besides, she felt as we feel when a stor on--that this issue was near, and could not fail to be terrible

The principal thing for her, then, was, as we have said, to keep Mme

Bonacieux in her power Mnan

This was more than his life, the life of the woman he loved; this was, in case of ill fortune, a ood conditions

Now, this point was settled; Mme Bonacieux, without any suspicion, accompanied her Once concealed with her at Arnan had not come to Bethune In fifteen days atthat fifteen days she would have tie herself on the four friends She would not be weary, thank God! for she should enjoy the sweetest pastime such events could accord a woeance

Revolving all this in her raphy of the garden in her head Milady was like a good general who contemplates at the same ti to the chances of the battle, to march forward or to beat a retreat

At the end of an hour she heard a soft voice calling her; it was Mood abbess had naturally consented to her request; and as a co the courtyard, they heard the noise of a carriage which stopped at the gate

Milady listened

”Do you hear anything?” said she

”Yes, the rolling of a carriage”

”It is the one my brother sends for us”

”Oh, e!”

The bell of the convent gate was sounded; Milady was not mistaken

”Go to your chamber,” said she to Mme Bonacieux; ”you have perhaps some jewels you would like to take”