s in token of surprise; Canaples
looked askance; I bit my lip, and an awkward silence followed, which,
luckily, was quickly ended by the appearance of Andrea.

The ladies received him graciously, and a faint blush might, to
searching eyes, have been perceived upon Genevieve's cheek.

There came a delicate exchange of compliments, after which we got to
table, and for my part I did ample justice to the viands.

I sat beside Genevieve, and vis-a-vis with Andrea, who occupied the
place of the honoured guest, at the host's right hand, with Yvonne
beside him. Me it concerned little where I sat, since the repast was all
that I could look for; not so the others. Andrea scowled at me because
I was nearer to Genevieve than he, and Yvonne frowned at me for other
reasons. By Genevieve I was utterly disregarded, and my endeavours to
converse were sorely unsuccessful--for one may not converse alone.

I clearly saw that Yvonne only awaited an opportunity to unmask me, and
denounce me to her father as the man who had sought his son's life.

This opportunity, however, came not until the moment of my departure
from the chateau, that evening. I was crossing the hail with the
Chevalier de Canaples, and we had stopped for a moment to admire a piece
of old chain armour of the days of the Crusaders. Andrea and Genevieve
had preceded us, and passed out through the open doorway, whilst Yvonne
lingered upon the threshold looking back.

"I trust, M. de Luynes," said Canaples, as we moved towards her, "that
you will remember my invitation, and that whilst you remain at Biois
we shall see you here as often as you may be pleased to come; indeed, I
trust that you will be a daily visitor."

Before I could utter a reply--"Father," exclaimed Mademoiselle, coming
forward, "do you know to whom you are offering the hospitality of
Canaples?"

"Why that question, child? To M. de Luynes, M. de Mancini's friend."

"And the would-be murderer of Eugene," she added fiercely.

Canaples started.

"Surely such affairs are not for women to meddle with," he cried.
"Moreover, M. de Luynes has already given me all details of the affair."

Her eyes grew very wide at that.

"He has told you? Yet you invite him hither?" she exclaimed.

"M. de Luynes has naught wherewith to reproach himself, nor have I.
Those details which he has given me I may not impart to you; suffice it,
however, that I am satisfied that his conduct could not have been other
than it was,