Time was passing, however, and the miscreants in whose power they were made no signs of life.

Hortebise did not appear any more, and there were moments when the miserable Diana actually ventured to hope.

"Have they forgotten us ?" thought she.
Alas! no; they were people who never forgot.
The Champdoce affair had been satisfactorily arranged, and every precaution had been taken to prevent the detection of Paul as an impostor, and engaged as he had been, Mascarin had no time to turn his attention to the marriage of Sabine and De Croisenois.

The famous Limited Company, with the Marquis as chairman, had, too, to be started, the shares of which were to be taken up by the unhappy victims of the blackmailers; but first some decided steps must be taken with the Mussidans, and Tantaine was dispatched on this errand.
This amiable individual, though he was going into such very excellent society, did not consider it necessary to make any improvement in his attire.

This was the reason why the footman, upon seeing such a shabby visitor and hearing him ask for the Count or Countess, did not hesitate to reply, with a sneer, that his master and mistress had been out for some months, and were not likely to return for a week or two.