One day, therefore, when the Duchess had called on her friend, on entering the drawing-room, she found it only tenanted by George de Croisenois.

An exclamation of astonishment fell from the lips of both as their eyes met; the cheek of each grew pale.

The Duchess, overcome by her feelings, sank half-fainting into a chair near the door.
"Ah," murmured he, scarcely knowing the meaning of the words he uttered, "I had every confidence in you, and you have forgotten me." "You do not believe the words you have just spoken," returned the Duchess haughtily; "but," she added in softer accents, "what could I do?
I may have been weak in obeying my father, but for all that I have never forgotten the past." Madame de Mussidan, who had stationed herself behind the closed door, caught every word, and a gleam of diabolical triumph flashed from her eyes.

She felt sure that an interview which began in this manner would be certain to be repeated, and she was not in error.

She soon saw that by some tacit understanding the Duchess and George contrived to meet constantly at her house, and this she carefully abstained from noticing.
Things were working exactly as she desired and she waited, for she could well afford to do so, knowing that the impending crash could not long be delayed..