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swine deny the nobleness of that good and gentle lady； Mademoiselle la
Princesse de Bourbon…Conti。 Every Frenchman know' that her cousin is
a bad rebel and ingrate； who had only honor and rispec' for her； but was so
wilful he could not let even the king say； 'You shall marry here； you shall
marry there。' My frien's；〃 the young man turned to the others； 〃may I ask
you to close roun' in a circle for one moment？ It is clearly shown that the
Duke of Orleans is a scurvy fellow； but not … 〃 he wheeled about and
touched Captain Rohrer on the brow with the back of his gloved hand … 〃
but not so scurvy as thou； thou swine of the gutter！〃 Two hours later；
with perfect ease； he ran Captain Rohrer through the left shoulder … after
which he sent a basket of red roses to the Duke of Winterset。 In a few
days he had another captain to fight。 This was a ruffling buck who had
the astounding indiscretion to proclaim M。 de Chateaurien an impostor。
There was no Chateaurien； he swore。 The Frenchman laughed in his face；
and； at twilight of the same day； pinked him carefully through the right
shoulder。 It was not that he could not put aside the insult to himself； he
declared to Mr。 Molyneux； his second； and the few witnesses； as he
handed his wet sword to his lackey … one of his station could not be
insulted by a doubt of that station … but he fought in the quarrel of his
friend Winterset。 This rascal had asserted that M。 le Duc had introduced
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an impostor。 Could he overlook the insult to a friend； one to whom he
owed his kind reception in Bath？ Then； bending over his fallen
adversary； he whispered： 〃Naughty man； tell your master find some better
quarrel for the nex' he sen' agains' me。〃
The conduct of M。 de Chateaurien was pronounced admirable。
There was no surprise when the young foreigner fell naturally into the
long train of followers of the beautiful Lady Mary Carlisle； nor was there
great astonishment that he should obtain marked favor in her eyes； shown
so plainly that my Lord Townbrake； Sir Hugh Guilford； and the rich
Squire Bantison； all of whom had followed her through three seasons；
swore with rage； and his Grace of Winterset stalked from her aunt's house
with black brows。
Meeting the Duke there on the evening after his second encounter de
Chateaurien smiled upon him brilliantly。 〃It was badly done； oh； so
badly！〃 he whispered。 〃Can you afford to have me strip' of my mask by
any but yourself？ You； who introduce' me？ They will say there is some
bad scandal that I could force you to be my god…father。 You mus' get the
courage yourself。〃
〃I told you a rose had a short life；〃 was the answer。
〃Oh； those roses！ 'Tis the very greates' rizzon to gather each day a
fresh one。〃 He took a red bud from his breast for an instant； and touched
it to his lips。
〃M。 de Chateaurien！〃 It was Lady Mary's voice； she stood at a table
where a vacant place had been left beside her。 〃M。 de Chateaurien； we
have been waiting very long for you。〃
The Duke saw the look she did not know she gave the Frenchman； and
he lost countenance for a moment。
〃We approach a climax； eh； monsieur？〃 said M。 de Chateaurien。
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Chapter Four
There fell a clear September night； when the moon was radiant over
town and country； over cobbled streets and winding roads。 From the
fields the mists rose slowly； and the air was mild and fragrant； while
distances were white and full of mystery。 All of Bath that pretended to
fashion or condition was present that evening at a fete at the house of a
country gentleman of the neighborhood。 When the stately junket was
concluded； it was the pleasure of M。 de Chateaurien to form one of the
escort of Lady Mary's carriage for the return。 As they took the road； Sir
Hugh Guilford and Mr。 Bantison； engaging in indistinct but vigorous
remonstrance with Mr。 Molyneux over some matter； fell fifty or more
paces behind； where they continued to ride； keeping up their argument。
Half a dozen other gallants rode in advance； muttering among themselves；
or attended laxly upon Lady Mary's aunt on the other side of the coach；
while the happy Frenchman was permitted to ride close to that adorable
window which framed the fairest face in England。
He sang for her a little French song； a song of the voyageur who
dreamed of home。 The lady； listening； looking up at the bright moon； felt
a warm drop upon her cheek； and he saw the tears sparkling upon her
lashes。
〃Mademoiselle；〃 he whispered then； 〃I； too； have been a wanderer； but
my dreams were not of France； no； I do not dream of that home； of that
dear country。 It is of a dearer country； a dream country … a country of
gold and snow；〃 he cried softly； looking it her white brow and the fair；
lightly powdered hair above it。 〃Gold and snow； and the blue sky of a
lady's eyes！〃
〃I had thought the ladies of France were dark； sir。
〃Cruel！ It is that she will not understan'！ Have I speak of the ladies
of France？ No； no； no！ It is of the faires' country； yes； 'tis a province of
heaven； mademoiselle。 Do I not renounce my allegiance to France？ Oh；
yes！ I am subjec' … no； content to be slave … in the lan' of the blue sky； the
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gold； and the snow。
〃A very pretty figure；〃 answered Lady Mary； her eyes downcast。
〃But does it not hint a notable experience in the making of such
speeches？〃
〃Tormentress！ No。 It prove only the inspiration it is to know you。〃
〃We English ladies hear plenty of the like sir； and we even grow
brilliant enough to detect the assurance that lies beneath the courtesies of
our own gallants。〃
〃Merci！ I should believe so！〃 ejaculated M。 de Chateaurien： but he
smothered the words upon his lips。
Her eyes were not lifted。 She went on： 〃We come； in time； to believe
that true feeling comes faltering forth； not glibly； that smoothness
betokens the adept in the art； sir； rather than your true … your true … 〃 She
was herself faltering； more； blushing deeply； and halting to a full stop in
terror of a word。 There was a silence。
〃Your … true … lover；〃 he said huskily。 When he had said that word
both trembled。 She turned half away into the darkness of the coach。
〃I know what make' you to doubt me；〃 he said； faltering himself；
though it was not his art that prompted him。 〃They have tol' you the
French do nothing al … ways but make love； is it not so？ Yes； you think I
am like that。 You think I am like that now！〃
She made no sign。
〃I suppose；〃 he sighed； 〃I am unriz'nable； I would have the snow not
so col' … for jus' me。〃
She did not answer。
〃Turn to me；〃 he said。
The fragrance of the fields came to them； and from the distance the
faint； clear note of a hunting…horn。
〃Turn to me。
The lovely head was bent very low。 Her little gloved hand lay upon
the narrow window ledge。 He laid his own gently upon it。 The two
hands were shaking like twin leaves in the breeze。 Hers was not drawn
away。 After a pause； neither knew how long； he felt the warm fingers
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turn and clasp themselves tremulously about his own。 At last she looked
up bravely a