-bred in spite of a second's confusion; his accent was cordial,
and the flageolet displayed with no attempt at concealment, captured the
heart of the Frenchman, who had been long enough in these isles to
weary of a national character that dare not surrender itself to any
unbusiness-like frisking in the meadows. And one thing more there was
revealed--here was the kilted gallant of the miniature in Olivia's
chamber, and here was the unfriendly horseman of the wood, here in fine
was the lover of the story, and the jealousy (if it was a jealousy) he
had felt in the wood, forgotten, for he smiled.

But now he was face to face with Olivia's lover, Count Victor discovered
that he had not the slightest excuse for referring to her who was the
only association between them! The lady herself and Mungo Boyd had
conveyed a sense of very close conspiracy between all four, but from
neither the lady nor any one else in Doom had he any passport to the
friendship of this gentleman. It was only for a moment the difficulties
of the situation mastered him.

"I have permitted myself, monsieur, to intrude upon you upon an
excuse that must seem scandalously inadequate," said he. "My name is
Montaiglon--"

"With the particle, I think?" said Sim MacTaggart.

Count Victor started slightly.

"But yes," said he, "it is so, though I never march with much baggage,
and a De to a traveller is like a second hat. It is, then, that it is
perhaps unnecessary to say more of myself?"

The Chamberlain with much _bonhomie_ grasped his hand.

"M. Montaiglon," said he, "I am very proud to meet you. I fancy a
certain lady and I owe something to your consideration, and Simon
MacTaggart stands upon no ceremony."

Count Victor winced slightly at the conjunction, but otherwise he was
delighted.

"I am ravished, monsieur!" said he. "Ceremony is like some people's
assumption of dignity--the false bottoms they put in their boots to
conceal the fact that they are under the average height, is it not?"

Arm in arm they went out in front of the inn and walked along the bay,
and the Provost and the Bailies were left mourning for their king.

"You must not fancy the name and the reputation of the gentlemen of
Cammercy unknown in these parts," said the Chamberlain. "When the
lady--who need not be more specifically mentioned--told me you had come
to Doom, it was like the over-come of a song at first that I had heard
of you before. And now that I see you, I mind the