We are safe! Everything has been accomplished, as if by enchantment. For

fifteen days past my Kondjé-Gul has been settled in a charming cottage

at Ermont, in the middle of the forest, hidden away like a daisy in a

field of standing corn. She has disappeared from view, leaving no more

traces behind her than a bird in its flight through the air; and I am

back in Paris, as if I had just returned from a journey. I have sent

word to Madame Murrah that her daughter, having resolved to become a

Christian, has taken refuge in a remote convent. You may picture to

yourself her rage; but, as she is henceforth powerless, I fear her no

more. Being a foreigner, and in her precarious position, she cannot

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venture to charge me with abduction, and, as you may imagine, I am not

likely to let her take us by surprise. In order to get rid of her, I

have offered to give her an annuity to live in Turkey, but she has

declined it.

There can be no doubt that Kiusko guides her, and that they have by no

means given up their game, but are ready to resort to any violence. You

may be sure I keep a sharp eye on them, and am prepared for them. The

contest, however, is too unequal for me to alarm myself very much. My

uncle, who never troubles himself much with legal scruples, telegraphed

to a couple of his old sailors, Onésime and Rupert, to come up from

Toulon: they were born on our Férouzat estate, and are, moreover, his

"god-children." They are ridiculously like him, except that one of them

is two inches taller than the captain. Their godfather has installed

them at Ermont, and I don't mind betting that, with a couple of

strapping fellows like them about the place, any attempt at carrying off

Kondjé-Gul in my absence would meet with a few trifling obstacles!

As to myself, I defy them to get on my scent.

Being accustomed to taking morning rides, I could find my way to our

happy cottage home by various routes, starting from opposite sides of

the city. Once on the road, it was impossible to follow me, even at a

distance; for I should soon recognize any one on horseback who appeared

too inquisitive about my journey. Moreover, if these tactics failed, the

pace at which Star goes would easily baffle any pertinacious pursuit. I

often stay for two or three days at this delicious retreat. My uncle

delights in coming there from time to time to take his madeira.




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