ns."

De Pean, while enjoying the vexation of Le Gardeur, feared that the
banter of Emeric might have an ill effect on his scheme. "I do not
believe it, Le Gardeur;" said he, "Angelique is too true a woman to say
what she means to every jealous rival. The women hope she has jilted
you. That counts one more chance for them, you know! Is not that
feminine arithmetic, Le Mercier?" asked he.

"It is at the Friponne," replied Le Mercier, laughing. "But the man who
becomes debtor to Angelique des Meloises will never, if I know her, be
discharged out of her books, even if he pay his debt."

"Ay, they say she never lets a lover go, or a friend either," replied De
Pean. "I have proof to convince Le Gardeur that Angelique has not jilted
him. Emeric reports women's tattle, nothing more."

Le Gardeur was thoroughly roused. "Par Dieu!" exclaimed he, "my affairs
are well talked over in the city, I think! Who gave man or woman the
right to talk of me thus?"

"No one gave them the right. But the women claim it indefeasibly from
Eve, who commenced talking of Adam's affairs with Satan the first time
her man's back was turned."

"Pshaw! Angelique des Meloises is as sensible as she is beautiful: she
never said that! No, par Dieu! she never said to a man or woman that she
had jilted me, or gave reason for others to say so!"

Le Gardeur in his vexation poured out with nervous hand a large glass
of pure brandy and drank it down. It had an instant effect. His forehead
flushed, and his eyes dilated with fresh fire. "She never said that!"
repeated he fiercely. "I would swear it on my mother's head, she never
did! and would kill any man who would dare affirm it of her!"

"Right! the way to win a woman is never to give her up," answered De
Pean. "Hark you, Le Gardeur, all the city knows that she favored you
more than any of the rest of her legion of admirers. Why are you moping
away your time here at Tilly when you ought to be running down your game
in the city?"

"My Atalanta is too fleet of foot for me, De Pean," replied Le Gardeur.
"I have given up the chase. I have not the luck of Hippomanes."

"That is, she is too fast!" said De Pean mockingly. "But have you thrown
a golden apple at her feet to stop your runaway nymph?"

"I have thrown myself at her feet, De Pean! and in vain," said Le
Gardeur, gulping down another cup of brandy.

De Pean watched the effect of the deep potations which Le Gardeur now
poured down to quench the ris