The six sisters of the valleys : an historical romance - University Library

208 THE SIX SISTERS OF THE VALLEYS.
it to the ground, when he recognized it as
the one which he had picked np in Annt
Marie's room. Twice had he seen it before.
Without doubt it was Echard's sword. His
previous sorrow rose into mad frenzy, and
he accused Ardoine of being faithless and
false. There was a plot. The two had
conspired together. Then as his rage
abated, his affection regained its sway, and
he absolved Ardoine. There were marks
of a struggle, and she might have been
deceived in some inexplicable manner. Cir-
cumstances were often difficult to reconcile,
but Ardoine must be guiltless. He had
known her all her life, and her religion
would lead her to prefer death to dishonour.
But as for E chard he knew him not. He
knew the treachery of Rome's servants,
who were often wolves in sheep's clothing,
and he remembered his tones of menace
when he delivered Gastaldo's edict, and his
attitude in Aunt Marie's chamber. Ardoine
had been decoyed away, and he should see