ccept some hospitality--a glass of wine, a
wing of partridge, in a room where none shall disturb you?' I shuddered,
and passed on. 'Nay, nay, madame, not even myself with you, unless you
would have it otherwise,' he added.

"Still I did not speak, but put out my hand in protest, and moved on
towards the screen, we two alone, for the others had fallen back with
whisperings and side-speeches. Oh, how I longed to take the mask from
my face and spurn them! The hand that I put out in protest the Intendant
caught within his own, and would have held it, but that I drew it back
with indignation, and kept on towards the screen. Then I realized that a
new-corner had seen the matter, and I stopped short, dumfounded--for it
was Monsieur Doltaire! He was standing beside the screen, just within
the room, and he sent at the Intendant and myself a keen, piercing
glance.

"Now he came forward quickly, for the Intendant also half stopped at
sight of him, and a malignant look shot from his eyes; hatred showed
in the profane word that was chopped off at his teeth. When Monsieur
Doltaire reached us, he said, his eyes resting on me with intense
scrutiny, 'His Excellency will present me to his distinguished
entertainer?' He seemed to read behind my mask. I knew he had discovered
me, and my heart stood still. But I raised my eyes and met his gaze
steadily. The worst had come. Well, I would face it now. I could endure
defeat with courage. He paused an instant, a strange look passed over
his face, his eyes got hard and very brilliant, and he continued (oh,
what suspense that was!): 'Ah yes, I see--Jamond, the perfect and
wonderful Jamond, who set us all a-kneeling at Versailles. If Madame
will permit me?' He made to take my hand. Here the Intendant interposed,
putting out his hand also. 'I have promised to protect Madame from
individual courtesy while here,' he said. Monsieur Doltaire looked
at him keenly. 'Then your Excellency must build stone walls about
yourself,' he rejoined, with cold emphasis. 'Sometimes great men are
foolish. To-night your Excellency would have let'--here he raised his
voice so that all could hear--'your Excellency would have let a dozen
cowardly gentlemen drag a dying prisoner from his prison, forcing back
his Majesty's officers at the dungeon doors, and, after baiting, have
matched him against a common criminal. That was unseemly in a great
man and a King's chief officer, the trick of a low law-breaker. Your
Excellenc