The Indiscretion of the Duchess / Being a Story Concerning Two Ladies, a Nobleman, and a Necklace

cance of a

Table of

eneration, deeming our continued existence in itself a service to the state and an honor to the house. We think more highly of ourselves than we admit, and allow ourselves to smile when we walk in to dinner behind the new nobility. We grow just a little richer with every decade, and add a field or two to our dom

barked. The impression is a mistaken one. As I have said before, I did nothing that was not forced upon me. Any of my ancestors would, I am sure, have done the same, had they chanced to be thrown under similar

rsuaded me to leave no address; obliged to keep himself within touch of the Embassy, he directed letters to be sent to Avranches, where, he explained, he could procure them; for, as he thought it safe to disclose when a do

place in the world," said he; "but we

ent the afternoon wandering about somewhat aimlessly and staring across the bay at the mass of Mont St. Michel. Directly beneath us as we stood on the hill, a

er than one," said I, yawning. "M

wered Gustave gravely, but with a merry gleam in his ey

what

ck, when we

t there in th

ere against that?"

and I went to

put a question or two as to the gentry of the neighborhood

t-Maclou has also

ere now?"

he answered. "Ah, they tel

Pray, of w

r, at least, not exactly, th

rug was an appr

the d

estly, "and a very clever man. He is

ay on a good man. Well, there was no help for it. I packed my bag with some dawning misgivings; the cham

there had been no pause, "he gives

e," said I, looking

possibl

, with a smil

found rest. I hesitated no longer. The man was a cunning hypocrite. I would go on cheerfully, secur

under the stars, St. Michel being our continual companion on the right hand, as we followed the road round the bay. When we had gone five or six miles, we turned

at the top?" I

r the top,

l walk,

rably impatient of our slow jog

soon distancing our carriage, and

t come to meet us," said Gust

rose very steeply immediately behind it. The road along which we were approaching appeared to afford the only access, and no other house was visibl

have company

" answered Gustave. "This i

kening my pace; and Gus

h fire when once I got

ruck on my ear-a cl

catch fire, my

Gustave l

he said. "W

ce again. "Well, he has but just come near

rning to the bank on the left side of the r

e darted down into the road, laughing

d to meet you

ought Claire wit

mmanded the duchess, as though

hair was a dark brown, and the color in her cheeks rich but subdued. She moved with extraordinary grace and agility, and seemed never

. Aycon," said she. "I've heard so much

madame, and Ml

o have supper again! I'm never in good enough spirits to have supper when I'm alone. You'll be terribl

ey all-?" b

again. "Oh, they will not tell the

e, as we began to walk, the duch

over her shoulder. "None, you know. T

true sometimes," I

walked up to the table. The duchess flung herself into an armchair. She had taken her handkerchief out of her pocket, and she held it in front of her lips and seemed to be biting it. Her eyebrows were ra

table, regarding it

exclaimed aloud, cou

brows mounted a little higher, till t

ve, in unmistakable questioning

exit, that they seemed to blend in some peculiar personal emotion proper to the duchess and to no other woman born. And she bit the handkerchi

t here?" cried Gustave, turning

en, first timidly, then more emphatically

t three

There was a pause. At last I drew a

ame is

She gave one look at Gustave's grave face, and then, bu

con? There's nobody b