Some other strange event excited the attention of the fickle public, and George de Croisenois' name was no longer in every one's mouth.
Norbert breathed freely once more, for he felt his secret was safe.
Diana de Mussidan had now been absent for three months and had not vouchsafed him a single line.

A river of blood flowed between him and his wife.

Among all his acquaintances he had not one friend on whom he could rely, and his reckless life of debauchery and dissipation began to weary him.

His thoughts were always fixed upon this coming child.

How could he ever bear to bring it up as if it were his own?
He had thought over many plans, but always trusted to the first one he had conceived.
This was to procure an infant, it mattered not where or by what means, and substitute it for the new-born child of his wife.