Stay during the hunt," he said; "my want of merit has accustomed me
to these refusals; but while accepting your friendship and that of the
colonel, you must let me satisfy myself by the judgment of competent
scientific men, that the draining of those marshes will be no risk to
the company you speak of, before I agree to the generous offer of your
friends. You are a noble girl, and though my heart aches to think I can
only be your friend, I will glory in that title, and prove it to you at
all times and in all seasons."

"In that case, Monsieur le duc, let us keep our secret. My choice will
not be known, at least I think not, until after my mother's complete
recovery. I should like our first blessing to come from her eyes."

CHAPTER XXIX. CONCLUSION

"Ladies," said the Prince de Cadignan, as the guests were about to
separate for the night, "I know that several of you propose to follow
the hounds with us to-morrow, and it becomes my duty to tell you that if
you will be Dianas you must rise, like Diana, with the dawn. The meet is
for half-past eight o'clock. I have in the course of my life seen many
women display greater courage than men, but for a few seconds only; and
you will need a strong dose of resolution to keep you on horseback the
whole day, barring a halt for breakfast, which we shall take, like true
hunters and huntresses, on the nail. Are you still determined to show
yourselves trained horse-women?"

"Prince, it is necessary for me to do so," said Modeste, adroitly.

"I answer for myself," said the Duchesse de Chaulieu.

"And I for my daughter Diane; she is worthy of her name," added the
prince. "So, then, you all persist in your intentions? However, I shall
arrange, for the sake of Madame and Mademoiselle de Verneuil and others
of the party who stay at home, to drive the stag to the further end of
the pond."

"Make yourself quite easy, mesdames," said the Prince de Loudon, when
the Royal Huntsman had left the room; "that breakfast 'on the nail' will
take place under a comfortable tent."

The next day, at dawn, all signs gave promise of a glorious day. The
skies, veiled by a slight gray vapor, showed spaces of purest blue, and
would surely be swept clear before mid-day by the northwest wind, which
was already playing with the fleecy cloudlets. As the hunting party left
the chateau, the Master of the Hunt, the Duc de Rhetore, and the Prince
de Loudon, who had no ladies to escort, rode in the advance