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

ed that Alwa

Table of

b from another; a woman's full face may be perfect, her profile a disappointment; above all, what you admire in yourself becom

tion of affairs-was "fun," I laughed; on the other hand, Gustave

carriage?" we

the way back three,

h it

allop down the hill; he

tunate!"

e. de Saint-Maclou, "that i

serious way in which

you wouldn't have come,"

is necessary," s

uchess, and she took the armc

stood regarding us for a moment, and then flung himself into the third

ac was called aw

d away," answe

dde

d expressions. I laughed. Then she broke out in a plainti

ply; the frown on

a fine distinction? The presence of Mlle. de Berensac would have infini

r. Aycon," said the duchess; "the

o has been told that she is naughty, but declines to accept the statement. I was puzzled at the

own, what would be though

thought," said the duche

said I, "o

ips. "If it is that, I'll forgive you, my dear G

l gesture, "to say that I am going to the

write?" w

tes to say she

tes?" we mur

t is t

" asked t

thia Chillin

device-a deceit!" co

was I to know about Lady Cynthia? If I had known about Lady Cynthia, I would not

I, "I am alon

ire gone to?"

pouted th

linging his nap

," he said. "I suppose you'll

as my unhesitating resol

e I shall

ruefully. "Oh, isn't it exasperating?

ld the truth-"

to supper," said the duchess sharp

ensac irrecovera

ke her turn of attendance on

little malice in the du

it with good grace, and, after supper, busied herself in discovering the time and manner in which her guests might pursue their respective journeys. I may be flattering myself, but I thought that she displayed a me

ime en route," said Gust

ed at me; I look

y considerate. You could not do more if

ss, "if I were quite

e afternoon will not wea

ure it," said she, wi

ourney, and (to tell the truth) a little out of humor with my friend, I was not long in seeking my bed. At the top of the stairs a group of thr

of women," said I pausing on

o Mme. la Duchess

ehind it, is discr

on us daily," said she

shut the door on the sound of a pleased, excited giggling. I love to hear such sounds; they make me laugh myself, fo

ie conversed within the hearing of King James! But, then discretion has two meanings-whereof the one is "D

he morning, and he did not flinch from administering something very like a lecture to his hostess. His last words were an invitation to me to get into the carriage and start with him. When I suavely declined,

n the hill, the du

ourselves fora few hours, Mr. A

to her, and her churl of a husband denied them. My opportunity was short, but I laid myself out to ma

the worst, the plea of reprisal might offer some excuse for her, if she had need of one. But she denied the need, and here I was inclined to credit her. For with me, as with Gustave de Berensac before the shadow of Lady Cynthia came between, she was, most distinctly, a "good comrade." Sentiment made no appearance in our conversati

e the merry girls busied themselves in preparing a r

ht," said she; and we sat down glum

alking to one another in rapid eager tones. The duchess

hear what

sh nothing excep

hrown open, and two rushe

madame

claimed the duch

ut, snaring a rabbit, and c

e? Whose carr

k of his to surprise us. But Algeria! We thought we were safe with Algeria.

hears not

duchess, "are we to

hat," I observ

cried the girl. "He i

ake the side-path,

ached it," said the girl. "He would

ide in the bu

quite calm; "and if he happened to see you, it would look rather su

ious if I were caught hiding in the bushes. I

n, I hope, of practice, came to t

leman pass as the groom? The man would not take his old clothes away, for he had bought

chess. "If he speaks to you, make your Fr

ke that it would have seemed disobli

You had better hide Mr. Aycon's luggage in your room, Suzanne.

st ordinary one. Five minutes later I presented myself to the duchess, dressed in a villainous suit of clothes, rath

pson, and you come from Newmarket; and you are leaving because you took more to drink than was goo

anter-but they might be

ou to come," she sai

quarter of a mile off!"

I wish to Heaven the Alg

get my day here,

, how dull it will be now! It only w

I, in the garb and personality of George Sampson, dismiss

ed, "would seem highly probable-and that is,

lease me. I like t