The Suitors of Yvonne

host awaiting us-those same two ladies of the coach in Place Vend?me and of the hostel

ed them as I did so. Geneviève curtsied with a puzzled air and a sidelong glance at her sister. Yvonne accord

I think, Monsieur," s

ce," I answered, think

per's daughter, and had Heaven given me shame I might have blushed. But if sweet Yvonne thought to bring Gaston de Luynes

d the memory of our second meeting. I have ever since desired, Mademoiselle, that an opportunity might be mine wherein to thank you for the pr

by her attitude, by the scornful turn of her lip and the disdainful glance of her grey e

s. "You owe your life to my d

nd the gentleman hurt himself upon my sword. Well, sir, the crowd snarled at me as though it were my fault that this had so befallen, and I flouted the crowd in answer. They were a hundred opposed to one, and so confident did this circumstance render them of their superiority, that for once those whelps displayed s

t he had guessed the name

o M. de Mancini. Now, "attached" is an unpleasant word. A courtier is attached to the King; a soldier to the army; there is humiliation in neither of these. But

s friend," I answere

ples looked askance; I bit my lip, and an awkward silence follow

faint blush might, to searching eyes, ha

nts, after which we got to table, and for

d little where I sat, since the repast was all that I could look for; not so the others. Andrea scowled at me because I was nearer to Geneviève than he, and Yvon

rtunity to unmask me, and denounce me to her f

the Chevalier de Canaples, and we had stopped for a moment to admire a piece of old chain armour of the days of the Crusaders. And

mber my invitation, and that whilst you remain at Biois we shall see you here as oft

Mademoiselle, coming forward, "do you know to w

ild? To M. de Luynes,

urderer of Eugène,"

les s

le with," he cried. "Moreover, M. de Luynes ha

rew very w

t you invite him hit

ven me I may not impart to you; suffice it, however, that I am satisfied that his conduct could n

eyes, blazing with anger, pass

believe this

onn

have received some false account of it that justifie

e. I made her realise this, and she bit her lip in vexati

to me-"My daughter, sir, is but a child, and therefore hasty to pass judgment upon matters beyond her

deliberation, during which I had argued that for

urned her back upon me. Nevertheless, I bowed a

t evidences I had had of the strength of her character and the weakness of her father's, our sojourn at Blois promised to afford me little delectation. In

at the future might hold, and to this I owe it that I s

floor, overlooking the street, and having an a

s milder, and the glow of the sun heralded at last the near approach of spring an

e up. Their laughter rippled merrily and they appeared upon the best of terms until they espied me. My advent was like a cloud

strong had tutored Geneviève the frail concerning me, I consigned

quoth I, "w

led ra

o poor a thing as I should find favour in her eyes-wh

d so, already you know that you f

old such things? Ther

ily. "Let it suffice that the inexpressible exists, and makes you happy

blighting touch of frost. What he said was so undutiful from a nephew touching h

und to the rose-garden-now, alas! naught but black and naked bushes-an

the water towards Chambord. "And, Dame," I cried, suddenly changi

s instinct," la

ay, until I suggested to Andrea that he should resume his practic

of fencing-masters to continue their tutoring on a wooden floor. It results from this that when the neophyte handles a real sword, and defends

my play intently, offered to try a bout with me. And so amazed was he with the result, that he had not done talking of it when I left Canaples a few hours later-a homage this t

did Andrea receive his fencing lessons. The object of his presence at Canaples, however, was be

nce for his own particular delectation. In truth, love is like a rabid dog-whom it bites it renders mad;

and the anger of my Lord Cardinal, be circumspect, and at least when M. de Canaples is by divide your homage equally betwixt the two. 'T were well if you

he wisdom of my counsel

han likely that a short shrift and a length of hemp would be the acknowledgment I sh

rode into the courtyard of the Lys de France, at dusk, the first man my eyes alighted on was the Marquis César