ce of her
own infidelity.

Her friends, who were watching her with all a woman's curiosity and
acuteness, were secretly pleased to see that their news had cut her to
the quick. They were not misled by the affected indifference and gay
laughter which veiled the resentment which was plainly visible in her
agitated bosom.

Her two friends left her to report back to their companions, with
many exaggerations and much pursing of pretty lips, how Angelique had
received their communication. They flattered themselves they had had
the pleasure of first breaking the bad tidings to her, but they were
mistaken! Angelique's far-reaching curiosity had touched Tilly with
its antennae, and she had already learned of the visit of Heloise de
Lotbiniere, an old school companion of her own, to the Manor House of
Tilly.

She had scented danger afar off from that visit. She knew that Heloise
worshipped Le Gardeur, and now that Angelique had cast him off, what
more natural than that he should fall at last into her snares--so
Angelique scornfully termed the beauty and amiable character of her
rival. She was angry without reason, and she knew it; but that made her
still more angry, and with still less reason.

"Bigot!" said she, impetuously, as the Intendant rejoined her when the
half-hour had elapsed, "you asked me a question in the Castle of St.
Louis, leaning on the high gallery which overlooks the cliffs! Do you
remember it?"

"I do: one does not forget easily what one asks of a beautiful woman,
and still less the reply she makes to us," replied he, looking at her
sharply, for he guessed her drift.

"Yet you seem to have forgotten both the question and the reply, Bigot.
Shall I repeat them?" said she, with an air of affected languor.

"Needless, Angelique! and to prove to you the strength of my memory,
which is but another name for the strength of my admiration, I will
repeat it: I asked you that night--it was a glorious night, the bright
moon shone full in our faces as we looked over the shining river, but
your eyes eclipsed all the splendor of the heavens--I asked you to give
me your love; I asked for it then, Angelique! I ask for it now."

Angelique was pleased with the flattery, even while she knew how hollow
and conventional a thing it was.

"You said all that before, Bigot!" replied she, "and you added a foolish
speech, which I confess pleased me that night better than now. You said
that in me you had found the fair haven o