athy to M. Leandre
and to the issue involved.

So her father was marrying her to a marquis! That implied birth on
her side. And yet she was content to pair off with this dull young
adventurer in the tarnished lace! It was, he supposed, the sort of thing
to be expected of a sex that all philosophy had taught him to regard as
the maddest part of a mad species.

"It shall never be!" M. Leandre was storming passionately. "Never! I
swear it!" And he shook his puny fist at the blue vault of heaven--Ajax
defying Jupiter. "Ah, but here comes our subtle friend..." (Andre-Louis
did not catch the name, M. Leandre having at that moment turned to face
the gap in the hedge.) "He will bring us news, I know."

Andre-Louis looked also in the direction of the gap. Through it emerged
a lean, slight man in a rusty cloak and a three-cornered hat worn well
down over his nose so as to shade his face. And when presently he
doffed this hat and made a sweeping bow to the young lovers, Andre-Louis
confessed to himself that had he been cursed with such a hangdog
countenance he would have worn his hat in precisely such a manner, so
as to conceal as much of it as possible. If M. Leandre appeared to
be wearing, in part at least, the cast-offs of nobleman, the newcomer
appeared to be wearing the cast-offs of M. Leandre. Yet despite his vile
clothes and viler face, with its three days' growth of beard, the
fellow carried himself with a certain air; he positively strutted as he
advanced, and he made a leg in a manner that was courtly and practised.

"Monsieur," said he, with the air of a conspirator, "the time for action
has arrived, and so has the Marquis... That is why."

The young lovers sprang apart in consternation; Climene with clasped
hands, parted lips, and a bosom that raced distractingly under its white
fichu-menteur; M. Leandre agape, the very picture of foolishness and
dismay.

Meanwhile the newcomer rattled on. "I was at the inn an hour ago when
he descended there, and I studied him attentively whilst he was at
breakfast. Having done so, not a single doubt remains me of our success.
As for what he looks like, I could entertain you at length upon the
fashion in which nature has designed his gross fatuity. But that is no
matter. We are concerned with what he is, with the wit of him. And I
tell you confidently that I find him so dull and stupid that you may be
confident he will tumble headlong into each and all of the traps I have
so cu