At least, she masquerades in this wilderness under the title of Madame de Noyan.

But 'tis you, not he, her reputed husband, forsooth, who seeks her chamber in the midnight.
Truly 'tis a pretty tale of romance." It flashed upon me, as she thus lightly spoke, what infernal use an unscrupulous woman might easily make of this.

The imputation lurking in her words aroused me to defiant anger, yet before I could collect my thought to make reply, she marked my hesitancy and continued with bitter sarcasm.
"Madame possesses so sweetly innocent a face I should never have suspected her of being an immodest wanton, were it not for the evidence of my own eyes.

'T is a strange world, senor.

Yet I have often heard this is the way with these _grandes dames_ of France." "It is only your own foulness of thought which places such construction upon my coming here," I broke forth, determined I would face her down at every hazard.