uld give it up--and I should not die of grief."

"You do not love him, my dear," said the mother, kissing her daughter's
forehead.

"But why, my dear mother, are you playing the Grand Inquisitor?"

"I wished to know if you desired the marriage without being madly in
love with the husband."

"I love him."

"And you are right. He is a count; we will make him a peer of France
between us; nevertheless, there are certain difficulties."

"Difficulties between persons who love each other? Oh, no. The heart of
the Pink of Fashion is too firmly planted here," she said, with a pretty
gesture, "to make the very slightest objection. I am sure of that."

"But suppose it were otherwise?" persisted Madame Evangelista.

"He would be profoundly and forever forgotten," replied Natalie.

"Good! You are a Casa-Reale. But suppose, though he madly loves you,
suppose certain discussions and difficulties should arise, not of his
own making, but which he must decide in your interests as well as in
mine--hey, Natalie, what then? Without lowering your dignity, perhaps a
little softness in your manner might decide him--a word, a tone, a mere
nothing. Men are so made; they resist a serious argument, but they yield
to a tender look."

"I understand! a little touch to make my Favori leap the barrier," said
Natalie, making the gesture of striking a horse with her whip.

"My darling! I ask nothing that resembles seduction. You and I have
sentiments of the old Castilian honor which will never permit us to pass
certain limits. Count Paul shall know our situation."

"What situation?"

"You would not understand it. But I tell you now that if after seeing
you in all your glory his look betrays the slightest hesitation,--and I
shall watch him,--on that instant I shall break off the marriage; I will
liquidate my property, leave Bordeaux, and go to Douai, to be near the
Claes. Madame Claes is our relation through the Temnincks. Then I'll
marry you to a peer of France, and take refuge in a convent myself, that
I may give up to you my whole fortune."

"Mother, what am I to do to prevent such misfortunes?" cried Natalie.

"I have never seen you so beautiful as you are now," replied her mother.
"Be a little coquettish, and all is well."

Madame Evangelista left Natalie to her thoughts, and went to arrange
her own toilet in such a way that would bear comparison with that of her
daughter. If Natalie ought to make herself attractive to Paul she ough