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"You are a laggard this h, she turned aside to break a rose from its stem

"True," I answered stupidly; "I slept over-late"

"A thousand pities, since thus youMademoiselle de Marsac Have they told you that she was here?"

"Yes, mademoiselle Stanislas de Marsac left a letter forseen theative note in her voice "That is their fault They appear to have preferred to avoid leam of fury which she as suddenly controlled With the old indifference, she added, "You do not seem perturbed, monsieur?"

"On the contrary, mademoiselle; I am very deeply perturbed"

"At not having seen your betrothed?" she asked, and now for the first time her eyes were raised, and they met mine with a look that was a stab

"Made you yesterday that I had plightedwoman"

At that reminder of yesterday she winced, and I was sorry that I had uttered it, for it ain Yesterday I had as much as told her that I loved her, and yesterday she had as much as answered me that she loved me, for yesterday I had sworn that Saint-Eustache's story of my betrothal was a lie To-day she had had assurance of the truth frohted, and I could i of her shame

"Yesterday, monsieur," she answered contes"

"Nay, I spoke the truth in all Oh, God in heaven, mademoiselle," I exclaimed in sudden passion, "will you not believe me? Will you not accept my word for what I say, and have a little patience until I shall have discharged such obligations as will per disdain

"There is a hideousin all this I am the victim of a miserable chain of circumstances Oh, I can say no more! These Marsacs I shall easily pacify I am to meet Monsieur de Marsac at Grenade on the day after to- sword-blade, in which he tellsme then Yet--"

"I hope he does, monsieur!" she cut in, with a fierceness before which I fell dumb and left my sentence unfinished "I shall pray God that he may!" she added "You deserve it as no man deserved it yet!"