though her heart was filled with rage, and she had
much ado to control herself. The Baron de Sigognac, with a quiet,
unembarrassed air, had bowed respectfully to the fair huntress, who
looked eagerly, but in vain, into the eyes of her former adorer for a
spark of the old flame that used to blaze up in them at sight of her.
Angry and disappointed, she gave her horse a sharp cut with the whip,
and swept away at a gallop.

"Now, by Venus and all the Loves," said Vallombreuse to the Marquis de
Bruyeres, beside whom he was riding, "that girl is a beauty, but she
looked deucedly savage and cross. How she did glare at my sister, eh! as
if she wanted to stab her."

"When one has long been the acknowledged queen of a neighbourhood,"
the marquis replied, "it is not pleasant to be dethroned, you know,
and every one must admit that Mme. la Baronne de Sigognac bears off the
palm."

The gay cavalcade, after a long ride, returned to the chateau, to find a
sumptuous repast awaiting them in the magnificent banqueting hall, where
the poor young baron had once supped with the wandering comedians, upon
their own provisions. What a transformation had been effected! now a
superb service of silver, bearing the family arms, shone upon the fine
damask that covered the table, in which also the three storks were
apparent, while beautiful porcelain and dainty glass, lovely flowers
and luscious fruits contributed to the attractions of the bountifully
furnished board. Isabelle sat in the same place she had occupied on the
eventful night that had changed the destiny of the young lord of the
chateau, and she could not but think of, and live over, that widely
different occasion, as did also the baron, and the married lovers
exchanged furtive smiles and glances, in which tender memories and
bright hopes were happily mingled.

Near one of the tall buffets stood a large, fine-looking man with a
thick black beard, dressed in black velvet, and wearing a massive chain
of silver round his neck, who kept a watchful eye upon the numerous
lackeys waiting on the guests, and from time to time gave an order, with
a most majestic air. Presiding over another buffet, on which were neatly
arranged numerous wine-bottles of different forms and dimensions, was
another elderly man, of short, corpulent figure, and with a jolly
red face, who stepped about actively and lightly, despite his age and
weight, dispensing the wine to the servants as it was needed. At
first de