The Suitors of Yvonne

pleased was I with what had passed that as I drew on my boot

Him, however, methought no great evil was to be feared from. In Paris he might be as loud-voiced as he pleased, but in his father's chateau-from what I had learned-'t was unlikely he would so much as show himself. Moreover, he was wounded, and before

o my "Enter," there stood before me a very dainty and foppish figure. I stared hard at the effem

stonishment, as he came forward,

and greeted me with

Blois since yest

ers me, for, of course, I take it, you are come to pay me yo

your affair with M. le Marquis de St. Auban that I am come." And drawing forth a dainty kerch

friend or-in som

as med

rk. "Sdeath! Has St. Auban's courage last

rcilious fashion that made me thirs

o avert the duel. On the contrary, he will not rest u

, I'll answ

ic of a fanfarron. He who promises

at him in

, Vicomte? Mortdieu! If you se

suddenly awakened apprehensions swept aside the affec

rief and state the su

w morning. News of the affair will spread rapidly through Blois, and it is likely there will be no lack of spectators on the green to witness t

who comes. I am accustomed to a crowd. Still, since M. de

coming hither charged with your arrest. It is probable that he may reach Blois before morni

im my expressions of admiration at this suddenly awakened

chapel of St. S

eyond th

bout a league from Cham

find th

s there at nine

askance

ver? This side afford

ord this evening, after which there will be no reason-indee

d more astonished. "St.

evenin

at night, when at any hour of the day I can meet the Marquis on thi

you cannot, as you say, meet St. Auban on this side at any time he may appoin

for a mom

this matter of ground 't is

w s

arquis is the

e has a righ

fight is on his side. His honour is hurt, not mine; I

will not be s

urneying to Reaux to af

ieur fear

, my pride gaining the mastery. "S

s will be gra

pon the Vicomte shrugged his narrow shoulders

l him of the journey I must go that night,

e, "do you go to meet the Marquis de St.

nd-what will you?-since I am going to kill the man, I can s

ce and scratched at his gr

play cross your mind, Mon

u that M. de St. Auban would stoop to such a deed as that? He would be shamed for ever! Pooh, I would as soon s

te-chamber, and the table. He wore a sword because it was so ordained by fashion, and because the hilt was convenient for the display of a jewel or two. Certainly 't was not for utility that it hung beside him, and no man had ever seen it dra

hat men take not such a position without purpose-usually an evil one. I slackened speed somewhat and rode on, watching him sharply. As I came up, he walked his horse forward to meet me, and I beheld a man in the uniform of the

that he had arrived sooner than had been expected. If so, it was likely to go ill

anced, and indeed rod

ynes," was his greeting. "I hav

u I should r

o quit the road, and pass under those trees with me. I have something

our character or m

uis!" he

"You were saying that we sh

n might h

nd the

hich albeit leafless yet screened us partly from

France holds so many noble suitors to her hand. This motive, by which I know that even Eugène de Canaples was actuated, was, St. Auban gave me to understand, his only one for embarking upon this business, as it was also Vilmorin's. Now, M. de Luynes, I have to-day discovered that I had been duped by St. Auban and his dupe, Vilmorin. St. Auban lied to me; anoth

ld have added more, but his gest

ambiguous speeches until they have the lady safe. Then might will assert itself, and St. Auban nee

carry out their plan? Have they dete

etter wherein she is asked to meet her anonymous writer in the coppice yonder, at the Angelus this e

"'T is too poor a ba

uban, Vilmorin, and their bravos will thrust the girl, then away through Blois and beyond it, for a mile or so, in the direction of Meung, thereby misleading any chance pursuers. There they will

nd the reason for this, as also St. Auban's resolution to so suddenly quit Blois, grew of a sudden clear to me. Also did I recall th

nderstand?" as

rning," I made answer, then spoke o

ge. I told St. Auban that I would have no part in this outrage. But that is not enough; I owe it to my honour to attempt the frustration of so dastardly a plan. You,

is hat to me, and wheeling his horse he set spurs in its flan