Traitor and True

n her. He was obliged, as part of the duty he had voluntarily undertaken out of his love for Jacquette, to pass half a dozen times in the course of the morning, and equally as often in the co

ver, he was ena

back in front of the saddle. On this there, also, stood a second box of exactly the same size; the pair of them--outside the casket or small coffre-fort that all women of means carried with them in the carriage, and that generally contained their valuables and the few implements of their toilet with which they burdened themselves--providing as much luggage as any one under the rank of a grand seigneur or grande dame, accompanied by many servan

intrigues with De Beaurepaire, or with his followers unknown to him; the woman who will inveigle him into a conspiracy against, Grand Dieu! the King and his throne. The woman who knows that old ma

ce. A good-looking, though saucy-looking, wench, who, after quickly observing that Humphrey had been reading the name on the boxes, allowed her eyes to roam with undisguised admiration over his handsome face, stalwart f

her, she continued, "Monsieur is of the following of Madam

ce this was undoubtedly the maid of the Marquise, a few pleasan

one" and with a flattered expression at being addressed as "mademoiselle," "oh! a desperado, a vagabond. A m

a surety it is. Well! is he insolent e

des dieux! What a name for such as that. Monsi

she told herself afterwards gave her a frisson, "who could h

onsieu

ame la Marquise goes, I do fear me, another way. Is it not so, ma mie?" venturing on the ma mie as a further aid towards

rds and lightsome manner of this handsome gentleman. "I know not. I am new to

hrey. "And engaged at épinal

e came from N

but a few days ago. What is all this? What does it mean? What does it all point to? This strange intriguer

eated, "New to her

he held: "as her robes; new even as her shoes. Pardie! one might almost say she had cast an old skin at épinal and put on a new one in its place. The things she lef

re than should be." After which he said, "And have you come to care for this new mistress of yo

Listen, beau monsieur. Upon her breast she bears day and night--I have seen it there when I have gone to wake her from her sleeping!--a miniature of one handsome as a god--handsome as a man may be. In the day,

forgetting himself. "Louis

s monsieu

ully, and, since he forgot himself, aloud, "One to whom t

ng how soft and clear they were. "I, too, know of one who is a Louis-

! Wh

e one king. The king. It might well be so. She

faith it is. It--it might be so. Perhaps you h

ay upon that woman's breast by day and night; not the portrait of Louis the superb ruler of France--of, indeed, almost all Europe--b

er, we will meet again. And, be not proud," putting his hand into his pocket

rhaps, have desired that in place of a piece of gold the donor should have said some more fine words to her, or looked softly once more

e turned on his heel after a pleasant nod to his gossip and a promise to speak to Fleur de M

her husband's house in Paris. Her guitar lay on her knee, the blue silken ribbons thereof dangling down to her little feet encased in

valise, or havresack, all the clothes which the Duches

"So 'tis you, monsieur. And did

f my room was one guardian angel--yourself. On t

oth

of three rooms next to Humphrey's. Her salon is next to his slee

is

has travelled from Nancy. The Marqu

th a sli

, madame?" Hu

er; that spy of his own, as I do believe. The woman who is steeped to the lips in the scheme which will lead to his undoing," and she ground her little white teeth together as thus she pondered. Even, however, as she recognised that Humphrey's eyes were on her and that

s, De Beaurepaire would do well enough for a husband if she ever cared to take another; as well if not better than any other man. His birth was illustrious, his name was one of the proudest in France, his position under the King that of the highest, and--which to an Italian woman was much--he was superbly handsome. He was a man to whom any woman might be proud to be allied, but--as for love--no! He had loved and been loved too often; he

who may do much evil to those who fall into her toils. If you by chan

harm you,

ance no one can do so. But--ther

thers in France whom you

rance whom I woul

should endeavour to work ev

here to meet other intriguers, another intriguer, an old man. Together they will plot and plot and draw one of whom we know into their toils for their own ends. They will do so! nay, they have alr

nd," with emphasis, "I s

s Madame la Duchesse know of any others than thos

y! Humphrey, are t

at, for the present at least, the Duchess need not know that the chie

turess herself, it would have been far better if he had spoken out openly and told the Duchess that La