The Suitors of Yvonne

, we did not again come up with Mesdemoiselles de Canaples, who in t

em. Thus argued he when on the following night, which was that of Friday, we lay at Orleans. But when towards noon on Saturday our journey ended with our arrival at Blois, he went so far as to conclude that she had hastened on expressly to a

all in vain-which is indeed no matter for astonishment, for to re

e set out for the Chateau de Canaples, which is situated on the left bank of the

by our servants, and many a rustic Blaisois stopped to gape at us, t

gold lace, which for elegance it would have been difficult to surpass. An air of pensiveness added interest to his hands

to accompany him. Long ago I had known the Chevalier de Canaples, and for all the disparity in our ages-for he counted twice my years-we had been friends and comrades. That, however, was ten years ago, in the old days when I owned something more than the name of Luynes. To-day I appeared before him as a ruined adventurer, a soldier of fortune, a ruffler, a duellist who had almost slain his s

ace up the avenue. Through the naked trees the chateau became discernible-a brave old castle that once had been the stronghold of a feudal race long dead. Grey it was, and attuned, that day, to the rest of the grey landscape. But at its base the ivy grew thick and green, and

urning to the left, he opened a door and desired us to give ourselves the trouble of awaiting the Chevalier. We entered a handsome room, hung in costly Dutch tapestry, and richly furnished, yet with a sobriety of colour almost puritanical. The long windows overlooked a bro

cattered but little of that white dust that marks its passage. His face was pale, thin, and wrinkled, and his grey eyes had a nervous, restless

e most cordially! We had not hoped that you would arrive so soon, but fortunately my daughters, to whom you appear to have been of service at Choisy, warned

nked him b

s somewhat sudden, but I have a letter here from

an, abandoning the formalities that had marked his welcoming speec

somewhat harassed, I fear,

ost furtive glance of inquiry in my direction. A second glance followed the first

laimed before Andrea had time to a

laugh. "I was indeed at Rocroi-captain in the regime

Luynes, my very dear friend, counsell

ectionate grip. "But how have you fared since Rocroi was fought? For a sol

was dismissed the se

ed the s

the bottle, and the scabbard. Ten years ago I was a promising young captain, ardent and ambitious; to-day I

sh that since he must soon learn to what depths Gaston de Luynes ha

er, and declared me the bravest fellow and truest friend in all the world, it is possible that the Chevalier de

at whilst Andrea remained at Canaples I would lodge at the Lys de France in Blois, independent and free to come or go as my fancy bade me. His invitation that I should at least dine at Canaples I accepted; but with the

of a certain affair in which your son had rec

naples was resting one of his feet upon the huge brass

I had news this morning by a courier dispatched me by my friend St. Simon, who imagines that I am deeply concerned in that young profligate. I learn that he is out of

tails before him. Beginning with the original provocation in the Palais Royal and ending with the fight in the horse-market, I related the whole story to

xt me and my wishes, and to strive against them? He sought to kill Mancini, eh

, aghast at so unna

"He is my son in name alo

ieur, he is still y

'T is she who will be mistress of this chateau with its acres of land reaching from here to Blois, and three times as far on the other side. My brother, sir, was the rich Canaples, the owner of all

proceeded to tell him of the cabal which had been formed against Mancini, and of the p

ek. He is a suitor-an unfavoured suitor-for the hand of Yvonne, that seemingly still hopes. But yo

ing him squarely in the face. "Did you not h

ith what mo

r the boy. He has been kind and affectionate to one who has known little kindness or affection in life. I seek to repay him by advancing his interests a

ent as steadily as his vacillating glance

dine with us, and that whilst you are at Blois we shall see you a

g from no warmth of heart for me, but merely from the fact that he beheld in m

methought his character scarce justified the callous indifference

ert whom I had seen at Choisy in Mademoiselle's company-ap