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

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ty of my inclinations beginning to strain on the weakened chain. On this account, among others, I resolved, as I sat in the pantry drinking a glass of wine with which Suzanne kindly provided me, that my sojourn in the duke's household should be of the shortest. Moreover, I was not amused; I was not a real groom; the maids treated me with greater d

myself with a sigh,

and her assistants to attend him on the bedroom floor, and I heard him giving directions for the lodging of the expected guests. Apparently they were to be received, although th

opened before me. I strolled some little way along, and finding myself entirely hidden from the house by the intervening trees, I sat down on a rude wooden bench to wait patiently till I should be wanted. For the duchess I should have had to wait some time, but for company I did not wait long; after about ten minutes I perceived a small, spare, dark-comple

of the duke, sir?" he asked,

that I did-f

hink of lea

on as I can; I am only

d be most grateful if you would present me to him. I heard in Paris that a servant had left hi

aid I. "If I were you, I would go to the house and

not your services suff

y attire, "I am not an indoor servant.

remonstrance at m

hen, I might

there by the chestnut tree, and you will find yo

hoped the duke would engage this newcomer and let me go about my business; and I fancied that he would, for the fellow looked dap

better go! B

uld have done no more for me than the chance of Fate; for at the moment the duke's voice called "Sampson!" loudly from the house. I ran in obedien

carce as soon as you like. I've got a better servant, aye,

t on me to appear

I asked. "Where can I g

d Jean a franc, he'll give you a lift to the n

many of my friends extend to their servants. I had nothing to complain of.

e asked. "You are sendin

" said he in mockery. "Moreover

the ground in obeisance be

changeable," s

ation in

change. I change a bad servant-as you yourself

house and disappeared. The duke followed her. The str

e me to Avranches or anywhere else for five francs, and was soon busy putting his horse in the shafts. I sought out Suzanne, got her to smuggle my lugg

, sub ?there, changed my raiment, putting on a quiet suit of blue, and presenting George Sampson's rather obtrusive garments (which I took the lib

old Jean. "If he'd discovered you,

a goo

g; for it was on the cards that the duke might still find me out. And I wa

. "I forgot! The duches

ulled up his horse

a grin. "You'll have to put on these clothes

er proud of my forgetfulness; it argued a complete triumph over that unruly impuls

ait while I

you after all

he poor duchess utterly forsaken-at the m

him favor. If he can quite forget her-and will be so unromantic-why, let him, and perhaps small harm done. But almost-That leav

ace my steps to

e sack over thi

o harm by that, if y

just as had happened to Gustave de Berensac and myself the evening before, a slim figure ran down from the bank by the roadside. It

forgotten me, but I knew you

resist s

e?" I cried. "I wo

you'd wai

aiting faithf

the duchess. "Take th

, and began to walk toward the cart, where Je

to me?" I suggested

duchess, reaching the

root from his lips. I

I exclaimed, "As we g

e cart (unassisted by me, I am sorry to say). "Because

e likely; I was bo

glish. "I told him I shouldn't stay in the house if Mlle. Delhasse came. He didn't

le. Delhasse: to begin with, I knew very little about it; in the

an!" said

cheroot round and round, and grunting now and

t the sack; and

d my t

you wanted me

the duchess, spe

with me!" I cried

r eyes grew round, her brows lifted. Then her lips curved: she b

the duchess. "Oh,

eaving out all question of-of what's correct, you know" (I became v

t so; he nodded solem

indeed, she was wiping her

!" she gasped at last. "I'm no

hat I need be ashamed of that. My change of expr

sses of her tone-or was it of her eyes?-there was a little reproach, a little challe

u going?" I asked

ng in a moment a most serious air, "in

rement?" I echo

ot my métier?" she asked

ere?" I

vent stood on the edge of the bay, under the hill of Avranches. "There,

g rather too complicated for my understanding. Unfortunately, however, it was to become more complicated still;

con, are going to stay a

esolve of my intellect. But we are not al

at

he duchess, "I wa

, nodding, "just a fe

he moonlight about three hundred yards to the left. The duchess took he

household was hard to surprise. I could make

hill. Now I drove up to the summit and stopped before the principal hotel. A wa

ouble for being late," said I to Je

ff, still chewing the

m?" I asked, turn

aid he, catching up

" said I, "from

face. I fancy he knew old Jean and the cart by

ble courtesy of the French nation, "ha

him a trifle, "is an ex

ost into the arms of an extraordinarily handso

eventful day," I