," he said, "that a man with so seared a conscience could
have slept thus soundly."

"I have not slept soundly," I grumbled, recalling my dream.

"Pardieu! you have slept long, at least."

"Out of self-protection; so that I might not hear the name of Genevieve
de Canaples. 'T is a sweet name, but you render it monotonous."

He laughed good-humouredly.

"Have you never loved, Gaston?"

"Often."

"Ah--but I mean did you never conceive a great passion?"

"Hundreds, boy."

"But never such a one as mine!"

"Assuredly not; for the world has never seen its fellow. Be good enough
to pull the cord, you Cupid incarnate. I wish to alight."

"You wish to alight! Why?"

"Because I am sick of love. I am going to ride awhile with Michelot
whilst you dream of her coral lips, her sapphire eyes, and what other
gems constitute her wondrous personality."

Two minutes later I was in the saddle riding with Michelot in the wake
of the carriage. As I have already sought to indicate in these pages,
Michelot was as much my friend as my servant. It was therefore no more
than natural that I should communicate to him my fears touching what
might come of the machinations of St. Auban, Vilmorin, and even,
perchance, of that little firebrand, Malpertuis.

Night fell while we talked, and at last the lights of Etampes, where we
proposed to lie, peeped at us from a distance, and food and warmth.

It was eight o'clock when we reached the town, and a few moments later
we rattled into the courtyard of the Hotel de l'Epee.

Andrea was out of temper to learn that Mesdemoiselles de Canaples had
reached the place two hours earlier, taken fresh horses, and proceeded
on their journey, intending to reach Monnerville that night. He was even
mad enough to propose that we should follow their example, but my sober
arguments prevailed, and at Etampes we stayed till morning.

Andrea withdrew early. But I, having chanced upon a certain M. de la
Vrilliere, a courtier of Vilmorin's stamp, with whom I had some slight
acquaintance, and his purse being heavier than his wits, I spent a
passing profitable evening in his company. This pretty gentleman hailed
my advent with a delight that amazed me, and suggested that we should
throw a main together to kill time. The dice were found, and so clumsily
did he use them that in half an hour, playing for beggarly crowns, he
had lost twenty pistoles. Next he lost his temper, and with an oath
pitched the cubes into t