"The poor girl is alone in this country, without kindred or friends. Why should I not be interested in her?"

"You should, of course; and then, women are always compa.s.sionate for troubles of the heart.--Well, madame, I go, with regret; take care of your health."

"He has suspicions!" said Valentine to herself, when the marquis had gone; "but what does it matter? I know the way to dispel them."

As the clock struck nine, a man enveloped in an ample cloak, and wearing a hat whose broad brim concealed a large part of his face, knocked at the gate of the hotel. He gave the Cerberus the name of Miretta, and was admitted; he crossed the courtyard and found on the right hand the narrow staircase, which he was about to venture upon although it was not lighted, when a small hand seized his and a voice said:

"Allow me to guide you, seigneur."

Leodgard abandoned his hand; the one that held it was cold and trembling.

They went up two flights; a lamp stood in a corner of the second landing, and the count recognized Miretta in the person who had served as his guide.

She instantly dropped the hand she held, as if she were glad to escape at last from a painful necessity. Taking the lamp, she walked ahead; and Leodgard was soon ushered into a dimly lighted room, where he saw the marchioness.

Valentine was seated on a sofa; her costume was entirely black, and imparted a certain solemnity to her n.o.ble and majestic figure.

At sight of Leodgard she carefully repressed a thrill of joy which sought expression in her eyes, and tried to replace by a pleasant smile the gleam of triumph which pa.s.sed over her face.

The count bowed low before her, and seated himself on a chair very near the sofa. He seized her hand before she gave him permission, and covered it with kisses; while incoherent words, which, however, accurately depicted his love and the perturbation of his senses, poured rapidly from his lips. But, happening to glance toward the end of the room, he saw Miretta sitting there, with her head sunk upon her breast, motionless as a statue. Thereupon Leodgard's flow of words ceased, and, looking at Valentine, he asked her in an undertone:

"What is your maid doing here, pray?"

"Nothing; she is awaiting my orders."

"Do you not propose to order her to leave the room?"

"No, indeed! on the contrary, I told her to remain."

"Ah! I thought, madame, that you had taken pity on my torments and my love!"

"Is it not taking pity on you, pray, to accord you this rendezvous--to consent to listen to you?--Upon my word, men are never satisfied!"

"But one dares not speak of love before a third person."

"Why not, when that third person is in our confidence and privy to all our secrets?"

"A tete-a-tete with you would have been so sweet to me!"

"Before granting a tete-a-tete, it is necessary to know one's mind; and one must be very sure of being loved!"

"Can you doubt it?"

"More than any other woman, I am justified in doubting it, when it is you who tell me so.--Really, monsieur le comte, your conduct is so extraordinary--it is now so directly opposed to what it has been, that at times I can place no faith in your words, and I ask myself if it is really you, Comte Leodgard de Marvejols, who sit here beside me, talking to me of love!--So it was necessary that I should become another man's wife, to arouse in you this longing to love me and to tell me that you love me!--You must agree that that is quite unique, to say the least!"

There was a suggestion of irony in Valentine's tone as she said this, which would have offended Leodgard if he had been less in love; but he thought of nothing but compelling the marchioness to revise the judgment she had p.r.o.nounced, and to forget the doubts she still felt.

Skilful in the art of seducing, eloquent when he really loved, tender and ardent by turns in his language, Leodgard knew the road to a woman's heart. Valentine was already listening to him with secret emotion; her eyes expressed that dreamy languor which denotes disturbance in the heart; when Miretta, who had been watching her mistress closely for some time, suddenly sprang to her feet, crying:

"People in the courtyard--I heard the gate close! It must be monsieur le marquis!"

"Ah! I must return to my apartment!" cried Valentine; "so that it may not be known that I have left it!--Miretta will show you the way out.--Adieu!"

"You leave me, madame; and I have no idea when I shall see you again!"

"I will let you know. Adieu!"

Valentine disappeared before Leodgard could say another word. He put on his cloak, wrapped it about him, and followed Miretta in obedience to a sign from her. The girl walked swiftly across the courtyard and knocked on the concierge's window, calling:

"Open the gate; I am going out."

The gate opened, and Leodgard alone went out; Miretta hastened back to her mistress, who said as soon as she saw her:

"You were mistaken, Miretta; the marquis has not returned. I have just asked Joseph. No one came in."

"I know it, madame; pray forgive me, but I listened to that gentleman's words, and I saw how moved you were. I was afraid for you--and for your revenge."

"Perhaps you did well, Miretta; yes, this Leodgard is very dangerous.

However, he shall not cause me to forget the past. You may leave me now; I need rest."

Miretta left her mistress and returned to her own room, engrossed by the events of the day, unable to account for the feeling of repulsion which the handsome Comte de Marvejols inspired in her, and regretting perhaps that the gallant had succeeded in making his exit without any unpleasant encounter.

But, although no one had appeared in the courtyard when Leodgard went out, there was watching on the street, within twenty-five yards of the hotel, in a corner formed by two houses, a man with orders to take notice of everybody who went into or out of the Hotel de Santoval.

XLVI

A DUEL

Several days pa.s.sed. Leodgard impatiently awaited the second rendezvous which Valentine had promised him; he a.s.sumed that he would receive another message from the marchioness by the hands of the little clerk.

The marquis returned from the reception with a darker cloud than usual on his brow; the next day, he hardly inquired concerning his wife's health, and the tone of the question was so ironical as to indicate his utter disbelief in the indisposition of which she complained.

Valentine, although she seemed not to notice it, observed carefully the progress of the jealousy that gnawed at her husband's heart.

Miretta too remarked that the marquis's servants were constantly at her heels in the house, and seemed to watch her slightest movements.

"I do not know what is going on, madame," said the girl, when she was alone with her mistress, "but I see that monsieur's people always have their eyes on me now; perhaps before long I shall not be at liberty to go out whenever I please.--What have I done? why do they spy upon me so?"

"What, Miretta! do you not divine that monsieur le marquis is jealous?

and as he knows that I have great confidence in you, he thinks that you may a.s.sist me in my intrigues."

"But in that case, madame, he will discharge me."

"Have no fear; he will soon do justice to us both."