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"Where have you been?" she demanded suddenly

"When, my mother?"

"This afternoon," answered the Vico two hours for you"

Roxalanne coloured to the roots of her hair The Vico for me, my mother? But why for me?"

"Answer my question--where have you been?"

"I ith Monsieur de Lesperon," she answered simply

"Alone?" the Vicomtesse almost shrieked

"But yes" The poor child's tones were laden onder at this catechishter is no better than--"

Heaven knohat , for she had the ue that I have ever known in a woman's head--which is much for one who has lived at Court to say But the Vico to spare the child's ears, interposed quickly "Coraces that we do not affect? We are not in Paris This is not the Luxe En province comme en province, and here we are si "By God, ahman? Am I Vicomtesse of Lavedan, or the wife of a boor of the countryside? And is the honour of your daughter a hter is not in question, madame," he interrupted in his turn, and with a sudden sternness that spent the fire of her indignation as a spark that is trampled underfoot Then, in a calm, level voice: "Ah, here are the servants," said he

"Pere of Monsieur de Saint-Eustache Anatole, you had better order the carriage for Monsieur le Chevalier I do not think that he will be able to ride horound, then he turned his little wizened face upon ularly solemn fashion Monsieur de Saint-Eustache was little loved, it see heavily upon the arm of one of the lacqueys, the Chevalier e was being prepared for him At the last moment he turned and beckoned the Vicomte to his side

"As God lives, Monsieur de Lavedan," he swore, breathing heavily in the fury that beset hi taken sides to-day with that Gascon bully Re to Toulouse"

The Vicorim threat, for all that to him it must have sounded like a death-sentence

"Adieu, monsieur--a speedy recovery," was all he answered

But I stepped up to them "Do you not think, Vicomte, that it were better to detain him?" I asked