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

Somethin

Table of

he physical encounter seems to typify and foreshadow some intermingling of destiny. This

madame," said I, wit

" said the lady, with an

in entering rooms hu

to stand just by the d

ll as I was myself; you would choose to call her stately, rather than slender. She was very fair, with large lazy

pass out?" said I

k it plainly, of homely and unattractive aspect-whom I had not hitherto perce

start early

rned her head slowl

r start early. Besides, this town i

us to arrive

s we will drive over in the a

n air of indifference-or rather it seemed to

elder in consternatio

ought," said I to m

r appeared, and I ordered a light supper. Marie poured out a glass of wine from a bottle on the table; apparently they had been supping. They

ll go at all. Entre

rd, however, she attempted no remonstrance. She rose, wrapping a shawl round her, and made for the door. I sprang up and opened it; she walked out. Marie drew a chair to the fire and sat down with

turned her he

igarette. I should set you at ease by going to bed, but I c

fire. She was gazing into it medi

e said imperious

looking down at her, adm

y here?" she asked, gaz

ood," said I, with

en able to p

That had not be

ly, "Mont St. Michel. But can you ima

set one her

at's it," she

ng to make a

slowly, "on my way to

ndolence; irresolution, vacillation, discomfort, asserted their presence. I coul

upward glan

is Marie

nown name," sai

ve hear

es

ickly, wheeling half

great singer," I

bout me? A woman is more than

ted with the langour s

a stranger such a question. She glanced at me f

tly; but the trembling of he

cked through a long silence. The last act of the

like that?" I said at last, giving utt

your face-no, not because it is

ish. My name is

little difficult to

re, and stood waiting her pleasure. But she seemed to have no mo

said, the last two words in

he asked me, and she

, "I shall see you

ed: "I could not help hearing

she opened her lips to speak, shut them a

My mother wishes it.

wly through the door, which I closed behi

he duchess th

thing only I felt sure--that what I had heard of Marie

ies in the day before me. These two women who had suddenly crossed my path, and their relations to the pale puffy-cheeked man at the little chateau, might well produce results more startling than had seemed to be offered even by such a freak as the original expedit

So long as the duke did not come to Avranches, I could show my face boldly-and

red not to notice me, though his eyes fell on me for a moment. I passed quickly by-in fact, as quickly as I could-for it struck me at once that this man must be Lafleur, an

oming at a

y, after half an hour's walk, I found myself opposite the church, and thus nearly back

er, her friendliness of the e

going to stay

t mirthfully. "I expect to be very much

t-apparently

and carry you off?"

. My presence her

eed yo

the ground and

d, "he-or she-will not come.

e first touch of coquetry which I h

, it is possib

open place in front of the church. The convent

she said; "I wonder if it

g on the edge of the road, and a horse, going at a quick trot, was within five yards of us. As it reached us, it was sharply rein

r you," said he.

inked, insinuating that Marie Del

had failed to strike Jean. I made

rings y

few paces off,

Mme. la Duchess

forward when she heard hi

h, it's a kettle of fish! For as I came I met that coxcomb Lafleur riding back with a message from the duke's guests that they would not come to-day!

in a rapturous

hen, because you were after

at I should stop somewhere on the road. Well, I have looked

se came clos

e, "if he speaks of the

estion as I

id Jean; and a swift glance from Marie Delhasse told

ll happen, J

remembering perhaps my five-franc pieces, h

thank you, J

is shriveled lips curl; his expressio

said I si

accompany it. He clapped his heels to his horse's side and trotted off in the direction

turned to me, a

What do you know of the Duke

question," said I, lo

r it?" she said

lhasse, I wil

' of the Duchess of Saint-Maclou whic

, speaking

ds whom you are on

What do you know about it?

imation in her manner now. She quest

," said I. "But-you asked me las

and shut her lips

d in a moment she w

you would insult me? Is it

eems," said I, meeti

you mea

invitation from Mme

er. She looked at me for a moment with parted lips; then, without a word

et it was not of the duchess only that I thought as I went. There were also in my mind the indignant pride with which Marie Delhasse had questioned me, and the shrinking shame in her eyes at that counter-question of mine. The Duke of

self. "If she weren't pretty,

on in a b