第17章 MADEMOISELLE DE LA VIRE.(5)

'Nay,mademoiselle;you SHALL hear me!'I cried,with a sternness which at last stopped her.'Granted I am poor,I am still a gentleman;yes,mademoiselle,'I continued,firmly,'a gentleman,and the last of a family which has spoken with yours on equal terms.And I claim to be heard.I swear that when Icame here to-night I believed you to be a perfect stranger!Iwas unaware that I had ever seen you,unaware that I had ever met you before,'

'Then why did you come?'she said viciously.

'I was engaged to come by those whom you have mentioned,and there,and there only am I in fault.They entrusted to me a token which I have lost.For that I crave your pardon.'

'You have need to,'she answered bitterly,yet with a changed countenance,or I was mistaken,'if your story be true,sir.'

'Ay,that you have!'the woman beside her echoed.

'Hoity toity,indeed!Here is a fuss about nothing.You call yourself a gentleman,and wear such a doublet as--'

'Peace,Fanchette"mademoiselle said imperiously.And then for a moment she stood silent,eyeing me intently,her lips trembling with excitement and two red spots burning in her cheeks.It was clear from her dress and other things that she had made up her mind to fly had the token been forthcoming;and seeing this,and knowing how unwilling a young girl is to forgo her own way,Istill had some hopes that she might not persevere in her distrust and refusal.And so it turned out.

Her manner had changed to one of quiet scorn when she next spoke.

'You defend yourself skilfully,sir,'she said,drumming with her fingers on the table and eyeing me steadfastly.'But can you give me any reason for the person you name making choice of such a messenger?'

'Yes,'I answered,boldly.'That he may not be suspected of conniving at your escape.'

'Oh!'she cried,with a spark of her former passion.'Then it is to be put about that Mademoiselle de la Vire had fled from Chize with M.de Marsac,is it?I thought that!'

'Through the assistance of M.de Marsac,'I retorted,correcting her coldly.'It is for you,mademoiselle,'I continued,'to weigh that disadvantage against the unpleasantness of remaining here.It only remains for me to ask you to decide quickly.Time presses,and I have stayed here too long already.'

The words had barely passed my lips when they received unwelcome confirmation in the shape of a distant sound--the noisy closing of a door,which,clanging through the house at such an hour--Ijudged it to be after three o'clock--could scarcely mean anything but mischief.This noise was followed immediately,even while we stood listening with raised fingers,by other sounds--a muffled cry,and the tramp of heavy footsteps in a distant passage.Mademoiselle looked at me,and I at her woman.'The door!'I muttered.'Is it locked?'

'And bolted!'Fanchette answered;'and a great chest set against it.Let them ramp;they will do no harm for a bit.'

'Then you have still time,mademoiselle,'I whispered,retreating a step and laying my hand on the curtain before the window.

Perhaps I affected greater coolness than I felt.'It is not too late.If you choose to remain,well and good.I cannot help it.

If,on the other hand,you decide to trust yourself to me,Iswear,on the honour of a gentleman,to be worthy of the trust--to serve you truly and protect you to the last!I can say no more.'

She trembled,looking from me to the door,on which some one had just begun to knock loudly.That seemed to decide her.Her lips apart,her eyes full of excitement,she turned hastily to Fanchette.