I am riding at once to Moulins, and trust to find him still alive.

Therefore, I pray you do not give up all hope." "I dare not let myself hope," she said.

"It would be but to suffer another blow.

Still, I feel that I have so much to be thankful for that, grievous as my sorrow is, I shall try to bear it, with the help of the Holy Virgin." The party now separated.

The baron mounted one of the horses left behind by the brigands, and with the men from la Vallee started for Pointdexter; while Desmond, with Mike Callaghan, rode back to Aubusson.
There they slept for a few hours, and then obtained fresh horses and started for Moulins, where they arrived late in the evening.
They alighted at the Soleil, where Desmond had ordered the two men, who had gone on from Roanne, to bring the body of Monsieur de la Vallee.
"The gentleman is not here, sir," the landlord said, as he came to the door.