a comical frown, and then rippled into low
laughter. "Now, how in the world should I know if monsieur does not? I,
that have never"--here she stared in his face with a solemnity in which
her amusement struggled--"never, to my knowledge, seen him before. I
have heard the Duke speak of a certain M. Soi-disant! perhaps monsieur
is Monsieur Soi-disant?"

"_Sans doute_, Madame la Duchesse, and madame's very humble servant,"
acquiesced Count Victor, relieved to have his first impression of
strategy confirmed, and inclining his head.

She looked at him archly and laughed again. "I have a great admiration
for your sex, M. Soi-disant," she said; "my dear Duke compels it, but
now and then--now and then--I think it a little stupid. Not to know your
own name! I hope monsieur does not hope to go through life depending
upon women all the time to set him at ease in his chair. You are
obviously not at ease in your chair, Monsieur Soi-disant."

"It is this coat, Madame la Duchesse," Count Victor replied, looking
down at the somewhat too ample sleeves and skirt; "I fell into it--"

"That is very obvious," she interrupted, with no effort to conceal her
amusement.

"I fell into it by sheer accident, and it fits me like an evil habit,
and under the circumstances is as inconvenient to get rid of."

"And still an excellent coat, monsieur. Let me see; has it not a
familiar look? Oh! I remember; it is very like one I have seen with the
Duke's Chamberlain--poor fellow! Monsieur has doubtless heard of his
accident, and will be glad to learn that he is out of danger, and like
to be abroad in a very short time."

This was a humour touching him too closely; he replied in a
monosyllable.

"Perhaps it was the coat gave me the impression that I had seen monsieur
somewhere before. He reminds me, as I have said, of a compatriot who was
the cause of the Chamberlain's injury."

"And is now, doubtless, in prison," added the Count, bent on giving
evidence of some inventiveness of his own.

"Nay! by no means," cried the Duchess. "He was in a cell, but escaped
two or three hours ago, as our watchman discovered, and is now probably
far away from here."

"Ah, then," said Count Victor with nonchalance, "I daresay they will
speedily recapture him. If they only knew the way with any of my
compatriots it is to put a woman in his path, only she must be a woman
of _esprit_ and charm, and she shall engage him, I'll warrant, till the
pursuit come up, even