eces, and throwing them down carelessly on the table, said, "Pay
yourself for the bottle of wine out of this, and keep the balance."

The landlord gathered up the louis with a deprecating air, and dropped
them one by one into his purse. The two gentlemen rose, without another
word, put on their broad, plumed hats, threw their cloaks on their
shoulders, and quitted the hotel. Vallombreuse took several turns up
and down the narrow alley between the Armes de France and his own garden
wall, looking up searchingly at Isabelle's window every time he passed
under it; but it was all for naught. Isabelle, now on her guard, did not
approach the window again; the curtain was drawn closely over it, and
not a sign visible from without that the room was occupied. Tired at
last of this dull work, the duke slowly withdrew to his own mansion,
feeling highly indignant that this inappreciative little actress should
presume to slight the attentions of a great and powerful noble like
himself; but he found some comfort in the thought that when she came
to see and know him she could not long hold out against his numerous
attractions. As to his rival--if the fellow ventured to interfere with
him too much, he would quietly suppress him, by means of certain stout
ruffians--professional cut-throats--he had in his employ, to do all
that sort of work for him; his own dignity not allowing him to come into
personal contact with such cattle as actors. Though Vallombreuse had
not seen anything of Isabelle at her window, he himself had been closely
watched, by jealous eyes, from a neighbouring casement that commanded
the same view. They belonged to de Sigognac, who was greatly annoyed and
incensed by the manoeuvres of this mysterious personage under Isabelle's
window. A dozen times he was on the point of rushing down, sword
in hand, to attack and drive away the impertinent unknown; but he
controlled himself by a strong effort; for there was after all nothing
in the mere fact of a man's promenading back and forth in a deserted
alley to justify him in such an onslaught, and he would only bring down
ridicule on himself; besides, the name of Isabelle might be dragged
in--sweet Isabelle, who was all unconscious of the ardent glances
directed at her window from below, as well as of the burning
indignation, because of them, of her own true lover close at hand. But
he promised himself to keep a watchful eye for the future upon this
young gallant, and studied his