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The Countess had a thought which slowly flooded her face with criht which on a sudden

softened the other's eyes; and the sa a mind to punish her coirl knew ed--she proposed that

they should return and find Badelon, and learn if he had seen the man

"Why?" Madah

"Why should we?"

"To clear it up," the elder woman answered mischievously "But perhaps,

it were better to tell your husband and let his men search the coppice"

The colour left the Countess's face as quickly as it had coue-tied Then-"Have we not had enough of seeking and being sought?" she cried, more

bitterly than befitted the occasion "Why should we hunt hi, Mada silent on the matter"

"Oh, if you insist? But what a pother--"

"I did not see him, and he did not see me," Madame de Tavannes answered

vehemently "I fail, therefore, to understand e should harass hi for us"

"And M de Tignonville--is following us!" Madame St Lo muttered under

her breath And she made a face at the other's back

She was silent, however They returned to the others and nothing of