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

rallele

Table of

n was more lively, as folk, their day's work finished, came out to take their ease and filled the streets and the cafés. I felt that I also

at the last; at any rate, I was glad to have helped her a little. If I could now persuade her to leave Avranches, I should have done all that could reasonably be expected of me; if the duke pursued, she must fight the battle for herself

to myself sharply, and I rou

early twenty minutes; then he came out and walked leisurely away. I paid my score and strolled over to the shop. I wondered what he had been buying. Dueling pistols for the duke, perhaps! I entered and asked to be shown some penknives. The shopman served me with alacrity. I chose a cheap knife, and then I permitted

said I.

se thing often to carry one of the

uarrel with ano

ly such as we sell

n't

en who have occasion in the way of their business to carry large sums of money or valuables a

leman bought t

, sir. He gav

dn't know h

But indeed I'm almost that myself: I

I asked, examin

," the man answered regretful

did not buy a pistol; but I allowed myself to wonder what my friend Lafleur wanted with two-and they were not dueling pistols!

drawn. It might have been supposed that she would show gratitude; I think that even a little admiration and a little appreciation of my tact would not have been, under the circumstances, out of place.

et me in the stable), she began to tell me that she had received a most polite-and indeed almost affectionate-letter from the duke, in which he expressed deep regret for her absence, but bes

etter in her pocket, "that the Delhasses are going, and th

; but I'm not so sure that

till quite sweetly. "You can't bring

e pleasure of surprising her with the sudden apparition of the Cardinal's Necklace. Without a word, I took the case ou

ng and murdering my

ion? Who does not know that first terrible glimmer of doubt when the story seems not to be making the expected impression? Who has not endured th

back to her the Cardinal's Necklace. Still, silent, pale, with her lips curled in a scornful smile, she

te my commission and hand the bo

e necklace in its case on the

hts and left with him at ten o'clock in the morning. Then having delivered this barbed shaft of the eyes, the duchess sat looking straight in front of

fixed on the whitewashed wall oppo

it, if it were the

swer her. For Marie Delhasse'

poor girl has acted honorably. Her t

flashed out the duchess. "It's the greatest

lady I had insulte

gest it-it was

her wish! How charmi

to her!" I said,

bin, made the very most of her

nsult to ment

y; it was too a

I've brought it," I

shut it-and flung it to the other side of the stable, har

l touch it!" said she, turni

I to do with

er word, without another glance, either at me or at the necklace, she w

ming my heels against the corn bin. Evening was falling fast, and everything was very still. No man ever had a more favorable hour for reflecti

e a young ass once," sa

stable. I picked up the box. Neddy thrust out his nose at it. I opened it an

ack in the pocket of my coat, wishing much evil to everyone who had any hand in bringing me into conn

scathing snub for me. My pride made this necessity hard to swallow, but I believe there was also a more worthy feeling that caused me to shrink from it. I feared that her good resolutions would not survive such treatment, and that the

sudden nervousness got hold of me: it seemed to me as if my manner must betray to everyone that I carried the necklace-as if the lump in my coat stood out conspicuous as Mont St. Michel itself.

epeating his stock recommendation, "it wi

I abruptly, almost rudely, and

ized. "And at least, it may be that

impossible." And I slid the pistol and a supply

One side of your coat will be weighed down. Ah, pardon! I p

th exactly the smile the waiter had worn w