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

Defines He

Table of

es' time we met. There sat alone in the carriage a tall dark man, with a puffy white face, a heavy mustac

called out, stopp

e my lesson in s

not that gabble." And then he repeated his order, "Speak English," in English

unt of myself wi

tings-any testimo

ssing him in style I thought most

isn't it? You become intox

ted in my life, my lord,"

e the justice of

hought such protest

losely, smoking h

the chambermaids?"

my lord, it was very hot,

were int

t, praying that the

there?" he asked, p

my lord, an

tated; then h

ever waite

table-in one sense. Perhaps that

," I answered, wonderi

ith them, but the work will perhaps be too much for him. Are

his face; but duty seeme

orry, my lo

you got an

ord; not

o you want your employers to say you

e lady

o me. Come, jump up!

duke glaring at me with impatient an

arn your living. I don't understand it.

might not be able to put in the way of my disappearance. And what would happen if he made his

ment which seized me. It was but for a day or two! Then I could steal away. Meanw

ould not give satisf

"I take you from necessity, not

o had brought Gustave de Berensac and myself the day be

r. I jumped down and

ardonically, opened the door and walked in, I just behind. Suzanne was sweeping the floor.

ke. "Old Jean didn't scuttle away to tell you then? You k

ared-and at me.

"so you must make the best of i

sitting-room

the hall and flung the door suddenly open. I believe he thought

whisper to Suzanne; and then I followed

as half-hidden by the duke, and she did not see me.

rmand," said she. "I thou

here is no doubt that the Duke of

joyed at the surpris

sing me," she answered

saying "Sampson!" and th

ou." And he seized me by the sho

er feet, crying out in

t would happen next, thinking that it would be,

y, madame, if it is not your ple

, and I looked up cautiously. The duke still stood half a pace in f

hands, and drew in her breath in a long "Oh!" It spoke utter amusement and delight. What would the duke make of it? He did not know what to make of it, and glared at her in a

man here fo

ngaged him to ass

ed him," she s

f your decree," said he. "I have need of a

? Is not Lafleur here?" (She w

-morrow; but he w

gh-for yo

ill be large

he asked, sinking b

I should invite my friends

ot consult your wife,"

suppose, that the conversation was no

ervants; and see that you

ess motioned me to stop. For an instant her eyes

thinks it safe to give you an oppor

snapping his fingers. "I want him to he

ite, and sprang up, declaring aloud in resolute, angry ton

receive Mlle

Alas, my pleasure was short-lived! for the duke, his face full of passion, pointed to

beaming face peered at me over the baluster halfway up the st

it mean, sir?

duke takes me for the dismisse

cried softly, clasping

t it ap

e going to

er matter. But-fo

serv

n such goo

madame

, show me the way to my quarte

looked up and saw the other girls

n them to show no surprise. Then

ting its existence in dimples round her mouth, went on he

ut. She stood for an instant on the threshold. She turned toward the

lung the door close behind her, to the a

ard to meet her. But she wa

n-this evening-after dinner. Suzanne will arrange

airs. I saw her stop and speak to the group of girls, talking to them in an

led the way toward the servants' quarters. I followed her, smi

o be: the name seemed familiar to me, and yet for the moment I could n

hasse the singer!"

en's sake be quiet!

ight," said I, with

the world as though nothing had happened. "And i

retty one?

that delicate evasive flattery that I love. "Woul

she favored him; others denied it with more or less conviction and indignation. But, whatever might chance to be the truth about that, it was plain that the duchess had something to say for herself when she de