rable mission, as he conceived, and bearing an invitation which
should give great gratification to the lady to whom it was addressed.
Madame did Mistress Quinton the high compliment of desiring her company,
and would doubtless recompense her well for the service she asked.
Fontelles saw no more and asked no more. In perfect confidence and
honesty he set about his task, not imagining that he had been sent on an
errand with which any man could reproach him, or with a purpose that
gave any the right of questioning his actions. Nor did my cry of "_Il
vient_" change this mood in him. When he collected his thoughts and
recalled the incident in which those words had played a part before, he
saw in them the challenge of someone who had perhaps penetrated a State
secret, and was ill-affected towards the King and the King's policy;
but, being unaware of any connection between Mistress Barbara and M. de
Perrencourt, he did not associate the silly cry with the object of his
present mission. So also, on hearing that a gentleman was at the inn
(Carford had not given his name) and had visited the Manor, he was in no
way disquieted, but ready enough to meet any number of gentlemen without
fearing their company or their scrutiny.

Gaily and courteously he presented himself to Barbara. Her mother lay
still in bed, and she received him alone in the room looking out on the
terrace. With a low bow and words of deference he declared his errand,
and delivered to her the letter he bore from Madame, making bold to add
his own hopes that Mistress Quinton would not send him back
unsuccessful, but let him win the praise of a trustworthy messenger.
Then he twirled his moustaches, smiled gallantly, and waited with all
composure while she read the letter. Indeed he deserves some pity, for
women are wont to spend much time on reasoning in such a case. When a
man comes on a business which they suspect to be evil, they make no ado
about holding him a party to it, and that without inquiring whether he
knows the thing to which he is setting his hand.

Barbara read her letter through once and a second time; then, without a
word to Fontelles, aye, not so much as bidding him be seated, she called
a servant and sent him to the inn to summon Carford to her. She spoke
low, and the Frenchman did not hear. When they were again alone
together, Barbara walked to the window, and stood there looking out.
Fontelles, growing puzzled and ill at ease, waited some moments