re-entered the saloon; "it is a matter of much delicacy, but if I
thought I could entirely rely on----"

Here the baroness stopped and seemed to hesitate. Jasmin, who under a
show of servile obsequiousness noted every look, word, and gesture with
unremitting keenness, thought that he detected in the lady's
embarrassment an apprehension that she might compromise or commit
herself too seriously by some communication she desired to make to him,
and he hastened to remove her fears.

"Madame has the best security for my executing any task she may impose
on me without any scruples on my part, as I have placed it in her power
to deprive me at her pleasure of my engagement with Monsieur Isidore,
as well as of that with which she has honoured me."

Perhaps Madame de Valricour had her own ideas as to who would lose most
by an exposure of her schemes, nevertheless Monsieur Jasmin's little
speech had its effect.

"In short, then," said she, "my nephew received yesterday a letter from
the marquis, his father, concerning a family matter of interest to me.
Monsieur Isidore has deeply offended me, and I do not choose to ask him
to let me see the letter, but it is important that I should do so--in
fact I wish to have this letter in my possession."

"The letter shall be in madame's hands before she leaves the chateau,"
replied the valet; and so ended this little supplementary conversation.

Monsieur Jasmin, who had hitherto considered Isidore's service rather a
tame and monotonous one, had at last found occupation congenial to his
taste, and he performed his task with the greatest readiness and
ability. It was not until after the young marquis had twice ordered
the horses to be brought round, and had been worked up into a state of
impatience which would brook no further delay, that he was informed
that his horse had gone dead lame. Determined not to be baffled in his
purpose, and half suspecting that some trick was being put upon
him--though his suspicion fell on the groom instead of the real
delinquent--he expressed his intention of riding Jasmin's horse, and
leaving that personage to follow on foot as he best could. This
resolve might have answered had he acted upon it at once; but just as
he was putting his foot in the stirrup the valet informed him that
Mademoiselle Lacroix had a packet which she desired to send to the
marquise. Should he go and ask her for it? The temptation to say a
few more last words was too great. I