Her face was pale, and her eyelids swollen, but her eyes flashed with the conviction of success.
"To-morrow, Counsellor," said she, "to-morrow I shall be the Duchess de Champdoce." Daumon was so overwhelmed that, accustomed as he was to startling events and underhand trickery, he could find no words to express his feelings.
"That is to say," added Diana thoughtfully, "if all goes as it should to-night." Daumon felt a cold shiver creep over him, but summoning up all his self-possession, he said, "I do not understand you.

What is this that you hope will be accomplished to-night ?" She turned so contemptuous and sarcastic a look on him, that the words died away in his mouth, and he at once saw his mistake in thinking that he could sport with the girl's feelings as a cat plays with a mouse; for it was she who was playing with him, and she, a simple girl, had made this wily man of the world her dupe.
"Success is, of course, a certainty," answered she coldly; "but Norbert is impetuous, and impetuous people are often awkward.

But I must return home at once.

Ah, me!" she added, as her self-control gave way for a moment, "will this cruel night never pass away, and give way to the gentle light of dawn?
Farewell, Counsellor.

When we meet again, all matters will be settled, one way or other." The Parthian dart which Mademoiselle de Laurebourg had cast behind her went true to the mark; the allusion to Norbert's impetuosity and awkwardness rendered the Counsellor very unhappy.