Marie, keep within sight, lad.

And let Croisette stay with me." These preparations made--and they took up scarcely a moment--I met the Vidame at the head of the ramp.

"Mademoiselle de Caylus," I said, bowing, "is, I regret to say, indisposed to-day, Vidame." "She will not see me ?" he asked, eyeing me very unpleasantly.
"Her indisposition deprives her of the pleasure," I answered with an effort.

He was certainly a wonderful man, for at sight of him, three-fourths of my courage, and all my importance, oozed out at the heels of my boots.
"She will not see me.

Very well," he replied, as if I had not spoken.
And the simple words sounded like a sentence of death.