de was indisputably drunk, and having loyally kept his
word, retired, somewhat unsteadily, to his own quarters in a high state
of maudlin satisfaction, accompanied by his friend Malartic, whom he had
invited to spend the night with him. By this time--it was nearly four
o'clock in the morning--the Crowned Radish was almost deserted, and
the master of the establishment, seeing that there was no prospect
of further custom, told his servants to rouse up and turn out all the
sleepers--Agostino and Chiquita among the rest--and his orders were
promptly executed.

CHAPTER XIII. A DOUBLE ATTACK

The Duke of Vallombreuse was not a man to neglect his love affairs, any
more than his enemies. If he hated de Sigognac mortally, he felt for
Isabelle that furious passion which the unattainable is apt to excite
in a haughty and violent nature like his, that has never met with
resistance. To get possession of the young actress had become the ruling
thought of his life. Spoiled by the easy victories he had always gained
heretofore, in his career of gallantry, his failure in this instance was
utterly incomprehensible to him, as well as astonishing and maddening.
He could not understand it. Oftentimes in the midst of a conversation,
at the theatre, at church, at the court, anywhere and everywhere, the
thought of it would suddenly rush into his mind, sweeping everything
before it, overwhelming him afresh with wonder and amazement. And indeed
it could not be easy for a man who did not believe that such an anomaly
as a truly virtuous woman ever existed--much less a virtuous actress--to
understand Isabelle's firm resistance to the suit of such a rich and
handsome young nobleman as himself. He sometimes wondered whether it
could be that after all she was only playing a part, and holding back
for a while so as to obtain more from him in the end--tactics that he
knew were not unusual--but the indignant, peremptory way in which she
had rejected the casket of jewels proved conclusively that no such base
motives actuated Isabelle. All his letters she had returned unopened.
All his advances she had persistently repulsed; and he was at his wit's
end to know what to do next. Finally he concluded to send for old Mme.
Leonarde to come and talk the matter over with him; he had kept up
secret relations with her, as it is always well to have a spy in the
enemy's camp. The duke received her, when she came in obedience to
his summons, in his own particular