She lowered her eyes and looked as her hands, which, under the lamplight, seemed as if made of beautiful ivory.

Then, while the smile of perfect confidence came back to her lips, she said simply: "If Monseigneur refuses, it is because he waits to know me." That night Angelique slept but little.

The idea that to see her would enable at once Monseigneur to decide in her favor haunted her.

There was in it no personal, feminine vanity, but she was under the influence of a deep, intense love, and her true affection for Felicien was so evident, she was sure that when his father realised it he could not be so obstinate as to make them both unhappy.

Many times she turned restlessly in her bed as she pictured what would happen.