les?'

Rosamund succumbed to the seductive woman, whose gentle tooth bit
through her tutored simplicity of manner and natural graciousness,
administering its reproof, and eluding a retort or an excuse.

She gave the embrace. In doing so she fell upon her conscious
awkwardness for an expression of reserve that should be as good as irony
for irony, though where Madame de Rouaillout's irony lay, or whether
it was irony at all, our excellent English dame could not have stated,
after the feeling of indignant prudery responding to it so guiltily had
subsided.

Beauchamp asked her if she had brought servants with her; and it
gratified her to see that he was no actor fitted to carry a scene
through in virtue's name and vice's mask with this actress.

She replied, 'I have brought a man and a maid-servant. The establishment
will be in town the day after tomorrow, in time for my lord's return
from the Castle.'

'You can have them up to-morrow morning.'

'I could,' Rosamund admitted the possibility. Her idolatry of him was
tried on hearing him press the hospitality of the house upon Madame de
Rouaillout, and observing the lady's transparent feint of a reluctant
yielding. For the voluble Frenchwoman scarcely found a word to utter:
she protested languidly that she preferred the independence of her
hotel, and fluttered a singular look at him, as if overcome by his
vehement determination to have her in the house. Undoubtedly she had
a taking face and style. His infatuation, nevertheless, appeared to
Rosamund utter dementedness, considering this woman's position, and
Cecilia Halkett's beauty and wealth, and that the house was no longer
at his disposal. He was really distracted, to judge by his forehead, or
else he was over-acting his part.

The absence of a cook in the house, Rosamund remarked, must prevent her
from seconding Captain Beauchamp's invitation.

He turned on her witheringly. 'The telegraph will do that. You're in
London; cooks can be had by dozens. Madame de Rouaillout is alone here;
she has come to see a little of England, and you will do the honours of
the house.'

'M. le marquis is not in London?' said Rosamund, disregarding the dumb
imprecation she saw on Beauchamp's features.

'No, madame, my husband is not in London,' Renee rejoined collectedly.

'See to the necessary comforts of the house instantly,' said Beauchamp,
and telling Renee, without listening to her, that he had to issue
orders, he led Rosamun