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〃Who can have put it into your head to be jealous of the commander？ Has he been base enough to boast that I ever gave him my love？〃
〃No； he never said anything about you； but someway I was afraid。〃
She renewed her assurances。 The conversation continued some time in a sentimental tone。 A thousand oaths； a thousand protestations of love were； exchanged。 Jeannin feared that the suddenness of their journey would inconvenience his mistress； and offered to put it off for some days； but to this she would not consent； and it was arranged that the next day at noon a carriage should call at the house and take Angelique out of town to… an appointed place at which the treasurer was to join her。
Maitre Quennebert； eye and ear on the alert； had not lost a word of this conversation； and the last proposition of the treasurer changed his ideas。
〃Pardieu！〃 he said to himself； 〃it looks as if this good man were really going to let himself be taken in and done for。 It is singular how very clear…sighted we can be about things that don't touch us。 This poor fly is going to let himself be caught by a very clever spider； or I'm much mistaken。 Very likely my widow is quite of my opinion； and yet in what concerns herself she will remain stone…blind。 Well； such is life！ We have only two parts to choose between： we must be either knave or fool。 What's Madame Rapally doing； I wonder？〃
At this moment he heard a stifled whisper from the opposite corner of the room； but； protected by the distance and the darkness； he let the widow murmur on； and applied his eye once more to his peephole。 What he saw confirmed his opinion。 The damsel was springing up and down； laughing； gesticulating； and congratulating herself on her unexpected good fortune。
〃Just imagine！ He loves me like that！〃 she was saying to herself。 〃Poor Jeannin！ When I remember how I used to hesitate。 How fortunate that Commander de Jars； one of the most vain and indiscreet of men； never babbled about me！ Yes； we must leave town to…morrow without fail。 I must not give him time to be enlightened by a chance word。 But the Duc de Vitry？ I am really sorry for him。 However； why did he go away； and send no word？ And then； he's a married man。 Ah！ if I could only get back again to court some day！。。。 Who would ever have expected such a thing？ Good God！ I must keep talking to myself； to be sure I'm not dreaming。 Yes； he was there； just now； at my feet； saying to me； 'Angelique； you are going to become my wife。' One thing is sure； he may safely entrust his honour to my care。 It would be infamous to betray a man who loves me as he does； who will give me his name。 Never； no； never will I give him cause to reproach me！ I would rather
A loud and confused noise on the stairs interrupted this soliloquy。 At one moment bursts of laughter were heard； and the next angry voices。 Then a loud exclamation； followed by a short silence。 Being alarmed at this disturbance in a house which was usually so quiet； Mademoiselle de Guerchi approached the door of her room； intending either to call for protection or to lock herself in； when suddenly it was violently pushed open。 She recoiled with fright； exclaiming
〃Commander de Jars！〃
〃On my word！〃 said Quennebert behind the arras； 〃'tis as amusing as a play！ Is the commander also going to offer to make an honest woman of her？ But what do I see？〃
He had just caught sight of the young man on whom de Jars had bestowed the title and name of Chevalier de Moranges； and whose acquaintance the reader has already made at the tavern in the rue Saint…Andre…des…Arts。 His appearance had as great an effect on the notary as a thunderbolt。 He stood motionless； trembling； breathless； his knees ready to give way beneath him； everything black before his eyes。 However； he soon pulled himself together； and succeeded in overcoming the effects of his surprise and terror。 He looked once more through the hole in the partition； and became so absorbed that no one in the whole world could have got a word from him just then； the devil himself might have shrieked into his ears unheeded； and a naked sword suspended over his head would not have induced him to change his place。
CHAPTER IV
Before Mademoiselle de Guerchi had recovered from her fright the commander spoke。
〃As I am a gentleman； my beauty； if you were the Abbess of Montmartre； you could not be more difficult of access。 I met a blackguard on the stairs who tried to stop me； and whom I was obliged to thrash soundly。 Is what they told me on my return true？ Are you really doing penance； and do you intend to take the veil？〃
〃Sir；〃 answered Angelique； with great dignity； 〃whatever may be my plans； I have a right to be surprised at your violence and at your intrusion at such an hour。〃
〃Before we go any farther；〃 said de Jars； twirling round on his heels； 〃allow me to present to you my nephew； the Chevalier de Moranges。〃
〃Chevalier de Moranges！〃 muttered Quennebert； on whose memory in that instant the name became indelibly engraven。
〃A young man；〃 continued the commander； 〃who has come back with me from abroad。 Good style； as you see； charming appearance。 Now； you young innocent； lift up your great black eyes and kiss madame's hand； I allow it。〃
〃Monsieur le commandeur； leave my room； begone； or I shall call〃
〃Whom； then？ Your lackeys？ But I have beaten the only one you keep； as I told you； and it will be some time before he'll be in a condition to light me downstairs： 'Begone；' indeed！ Is that the way you receive an old friend？ Pray be seated； chevalier。〃
He approached Mademoiselle de Guerchi； and； despite her resistance； seized hold of one of her hands； and forcing her to sit down； seated himself beside her。
〃That's right； my girl；〃 said he； 〃now let us talk sense。 I understand that before a stranger you consider yourself obliged to appear astonished at my ways of going on。 But he knows all about us； and nothing he may see or hear will surprise him。 So a truce to prudery！ I came back yesterday； but I could not make out your hiding…place till to…day。 Now I'm not going to ask you to tell me how you have gone on in my absence。 God and you alone know； and while He will tell me nothing； you would only tell me fibs； and I want to save you from that venial sin at least。 But here I am； in as good spirits as ever； more in love than ever； and quite ready to resume my old habits。〃
Meantime the lady； quite subdued by his noisy entrance and ruffianly conduct； and seeing that an assumption of dignity would only draw down on her some fresh impertinence； appeared to resign herself to her position。 All this time Quennebert never took his eyes from the chevalier； who sat with his face towards the partition。 His elegantly cut costume accentuated his personal advantages。 His jet black hair brought into relief the whiteness of his forehead； his large dark eyes with their veined lids and silky lashes had a penetrating and peculiar expressiona mixture of audacity and weakness； his thin and somewhat pale lips were apt to curl in an ironical smile； his hands were of perfect beauty； his feet of dainty smallness； and he showed with an affectation of complaisance a well…turned leg above his ample boots； the turned down tops of which； garnished with lace； fell in irregular folds aver his ankles in the latest fashion。 He did not appear to be more than eighteen years of age； and nature had denied his charming face the distinctive sign of his sex for not the slightest down was visible on his chin； though a little delicate pencilling darkened his upper lip： His slightly effeminate style of beauty； the graceful curves of his figure； his expression； sometimes coaxing； sometimes saucy； reminding one of a page； gave him the appearance of a charming young scapegrace destined to inspire sudden passions and wayward fancies。 While his pretended uncle was making himself at home most unceremoniously； Quennebert remarked that the chevalier at once began to lay siege to his fair hostess； bestowing tender and love…laden glances on her behind that uncle's back。 This redoubled his curiosity。
〃My dear girl；〃 said the commander； 〃since I saw you last I have come into a fortune of one hundred thousand livres； neither more nor less。 One of my dear aunts took it into her head to depart this life； and her temper being crotchety and spiteful she made me her sole heir； in order to enrage those of her relatives who had nursed her in her illness。 One hundred thousand livres！ It's a round sumenough to cut a great figure with for two years。 If you like； we shall squander it together； capital and interest。 Why do you not speak？ Has anyone else robbed me by any chance of your heart？ If that were so； I should be in despair； upon my word…for the sake of the fortunate individual who had won your favour； for I will brook no rivals； I give you fair warning。〃
〃Monsieur le commandeur；〃 answered Angelique； 〃you forget； in speaking to me in that manner； I have never given you any right to control my actions。〃
〃Have we severed our connection？〃
At this singular question Angelique started； but de Jars continued
〃When last we parted we were on the best of terms； were we not？ I know that some mo