liation.

From under her brows her woman glanced at me inquisitively; her liveried
page, his nose in the air, eyed me so pertly that I was hard put to it
not to hasten with my foot his descent of the steps.

At last they were gone, and from the outside the shrill voice of her
page was wafted to me. He was calling to the ostler for her carriage.
Standing, in my deep mortification, where she had passed me, I
conjectured from that demand that she was journeying to Lavedan.

She knew now how she had been cheated on every hand, first by me and
later, that very afternoon, by Chatellerault, and her resolve to quit
Toulouse could but signify that she was done with me for good. That it
had surprised her to find me at large already, I fancied I had seen in
her momentary glance, but her pride had been quick to conquer and stifle
all signs of that surprise.

I remained where she had passed me until her coach had rumbled away into
the night, and during the moments that elapsed I had stood arguing with
myself and resolving upon my course of action. But despair was fastening
upon me.

I had come to the Hotel de l'Epee, exulting, joyous, and confident of
victory. I had come to confess everything to her, and by virtue of what
I had done that confession was rendered easy. I could have said to her:
"The woman whom I wagered to win was not you, Roxalanne, but a certain
Mademoiselle de Lavedan. Your love I have won, but that you may foster
no doubts of my intentions, I have paid my wager and acknowledge defeat.
I have made over to Chatellerault and to his heirs for all time my
estates of Bardelys."

Oh, I had rehearsed it in my mind, and I was confident--I knew--that I
should win her. And now--the disclosure of that shameful traffic coming
from other lips than mine had ruined everything by forestalling my
avowal.

Rodenard should pay for it--by God, he should! Once again did I become a
prey to the passion of anger which I have ever held to be unworthy in a
gentleman, but to which it would seem that I was growing accustomed to
give way. The ostler was mounting the steps at the moment. He carried in
his hand a stout horsewhip with a long knotted thong. Hastily muttering
a "By your leave," I snatched it from him and sprang into the room.

My intendant was still talking of me. The room was crowded, for Rodenard
alone had brought with him my twenty followers. One of these looked up
as I brushed past him, and uttered a cry of surprise up