“Are you sure,” continued the young duke, still addressing the landlord, and without paying any attention to the last remark, “that this chaste Isabelle does not accord any privileges secretly to that conceited young jackanapes?  I despise the fellow thoroughly, and detest him as well.”

“Your lordship does not know her,” answered Maitre Bilot, “or I should not need to declare, as I do, that she is as spotless as the ermine.  She would rather die than suffer a stain upon her purity.  It is impossible to see much of her without perceiving that; it shines out in everything that she says and does.”

Hereupon a long discussion followed as to the best manner of conducting the attack upon this fair citadel, which the young nobleman became more and more determined to conquer, as new difficulties were suggested.  The worthy landlord, who was a shrewd fellow and had made a just estimate of Isabelle’s character, finished by advising his noble interlocutor to turn his attention to Serafina, “who was very charming, and not less beautiful than Isabelle, and who would be greatly pleased and flattered by his lordship’s notice.”  This, because he felt sure that the duke would not succeed with Isabelle, in spite of his exalted rank, handsome person, and immense wealth, and he wished to spare him an inevitable disappointment.

“It is Isabelle that I admire, and will have,” said Vallombreuse, in a dry tone that put an end to the discussion.  “Isabelle, and no other, Maitre Bilot.”

Then plunging his hand into his pocket, he drew forth a goodly number of gold pieces, and throwing them down carelessly on the table, said, “Pay yourself for the bottle of wine out of this, and keep the balance.”

The landlord gathered up the louis with a deprecating air, and dropped them one by one into his purse.  The two gentlemen rose, without another word, put on their broad, plumed hats, threw their cloaks on their shoulders, and quitted the hotel.  Vallombreuse took several turns up and down the narrow alley between the Armes de France and his own garden wall, looking up searchingly at Isabelle’s window every time he passed under it; but it was all for naught.  Isabelle, now on her guard, did not approach the window again; the curtain was drawn closely over it, and not a sign visible from without that the room was occupied.  Tired at last of this dull work, the duke slowly withdrew to his own mansion, feeling highly indignant that this inappreciative little actress should presume to slight the attentions of a great and powerful noble like himself; but he found some comfort in the thought that when she came to see and know him she could not long hold out against his numerous attractions.  As to his rival—­if the fellow ventured to interfere with him too much, he would quietly suppress him, by means of certain stout ruffians—­professional cut-throats—­he had in his employ, to do all that sort of work for him; his own dignity not