I--Cesar de St.Auban--have been ordered from the house of a provincial upstart! Thanks to the calumnies which you poured into his ears." "Calumnies! Was that the word ?" "I choose the word that suits me best," he answered, and the rage that was in him at the affront he had suffered at the hands of the Chevalier de Canaples was fast rising to the surface.

"I warned you at Choisy of what would befall.

Your opposition and your alliance with M.de Mancini are futile.

You think to have gained a victory by winning over to your side an old fool who will sacrifice his honour to see his daughter a duchess, but I tell you, sir--" "That you hope to see her a marchioness," I put in calmly.

"You see, M.
de St.Auban, I have learned something since I came to Blois." He grew livid with passion.
"You shall learn more ere you quit it, you meddler! You shall be taught to keep that long nose of yours out of matters that concern you not." I laughed.
"Loud threats!" I answered jeeringly.
"Never fear," he cried, "there is more to follow.