Vallombreuse took several turns up and down the narrow alley between the Armes de France and his own garden wall, looking up searchingly at Isabelle's window every time he passed under it; but it was all for naught.

Isabelle, now on her guard, did not approach the window again; the curtain was drawn closely over it, and not a sign visible from without that the room was occupied.

Tired at last of this dull work, the duke slowly withdrew to his own mansion, feeling highly indignant that this inappreciative little actress should presume to slight the attentions of a great and powerful noble like himself; but he found some comfort in the thought that when she came to see and know him she could not long hold out against his numerous attractions.

As to his rival--if the fellow ventured to interfere with him too much, he would quietly suppress him, by means of certain stout ruffians--professional cut-throats--he had in his employ, to do all that sort of work for him; his own dignity not allowing him to come into personal contact with such cattle as actors.

Though Vallombreuse had not seen anything of Isabelle at her window, he himself had been closely watched, by jealous eyes, from a neighbouring casement that commanded the same view.