onspicuously on the
dressing-table, where it could not fail to meet her eye the moment she
entered the chamber. A folded paper was lying under one corner of the
casket, which must have contained some very precious gems, for it was
a real marvel of beauty itself. The paper was not sealed, and bore only
these two words, evidently written by a weak and trembling hand, "For
Isabelle." A bright flush of indignation overspread her sweet face when
she perceived it, and without even yielding to her feminine curiosity
so far as to open the richly carved and inlaid casket for a peep at its
contents, she called for Maitre Bilot, and ordered him peremptorily
to take it immediately out of her room, and give it back to whomsoever
owned it, for she would not suffer it to remain where it was another
minute. The landlord affected astonishment, and swore by all he held
sacred that he did not know who had put the casket there, nor whose it
was; though it must be confessed that he had his suspicions, and felt
very sure that they were correct. In truth, the obnoxious jewel-case had
been secretly placed upon Isabelle's table by old Mme. Leonarde, to whom
the Duke of Vallombreuse had had recourse, in the hope that she might be
able to aid him, and in the full belief, shared by her, that the superb
diamonds which the beautiful casket contained would accomplish all that
he desired with Isabelle. But his offering only served to rouse her
indignation, and she spoke very severely to Maitre Bilot, commanding him
to remove it instantly from her sight, and to be careful not to mention
this fresh affront to Captain Fracasse. The worthy landlord could
not help feeling enthusiastic admiration for the conduct of the young
actress, who rejected jewels that would have made a duchess envious, and
as he retired bowed to her as respectfully and profoundly as he would
have done to a queen. After he had withdrawn and she was left alone,
Isabelle, feeling agitated and feverish, opened her window for a breath
of fresh air, and to cool her burning cheeks and brow. She saw a bright
light issuing from a couple of windows in the mansion of the Duke of
Vallombreuse--doubtless in the room where the wounded young nobleman
lay--but the garden and the little alley beneath her seemed absolutely
deserted. In a moment, however, she caught a low whisper from the
latter, not intended for her ears, which said, "She has not gone to
bed yet." She softly leaned out of her window--th