“Well, dear,” said Rose, dryly, “since you admit so much, I must say I couldn’t help thinking—­while you were doing it—­we were letting ’the poor boy’ off ridiculously cheap.”

“At least I did my duty?” suggested Josephine, inquiringly.

“Magnificently; you overawed even me.  So now to business, as the gentlemen say.  Which of us two takes him?”

“Takes whom?” inquired Josephine, opening her lovely eyes.

“Edouard,” murmured Rose, lowering hers.

Josephine glared on the lovely minx with wonder and comical horror.

“Oh! you shall have him,” said Rose, “if you like.  You are the eldest, you know.”

“Fie!”

“Do now; to oblige me.”

“For shame!  Rose.  Is this you? talking like that!”

“Oh! there’s no compulsion, dear; I never force young ladies’ inclinations.  So you decline him?”

“Of course I decline him.”

“Then, oh, you dear, darling Josephine, this is the prettiest present you ever made me,” and she kissed her vehemently.

Josephine was frightened now.  She held Rose out at arm’s length with both hands, and looked earnestly into her, and implored her not to play with fire.  “Take warning by me.”

Rose recommended her to keep her pity for Monsieur Riviere, “who had fallen into nice hands,” she said.  That no doubt might remain on that head, she whispered mysteriously, but with much gravity and conviction, “I am an Imp;” and aimed at Josephine with her forefinger to point the remark.  For one second she stood and watched this important statement sink into her sister’s mind, then set-to and gambolled elfishly round her as she moved stately and thoughtful across the grass to the chateau.

Two days after this a large tree was blown down in Beaurepaire park, and made quite a gap in the prospect.  You never know what a big thing a leafy tree is till it comes down.  And this ill wind blew Edouard good; for it laid bare the chateau to his inquiring telescope.  He had not gazed above half an hour, when a female figure emerged from the chateau.  His heart beat.  It was only Jacintha.  He saw her look this way and that, and presently Dard appeared, and she sent him with his axe to the fallen tree.  Edouard watched him hacking away at it.  Presently his heart gave a violent leap; for why? two ladies emerged from the Pleasaunce and walked across the park.  They came up to Dard, and stood looking at the tree and Dard hacking it, and Edouard watched them greedily.  You know we all love to magnify her we love.  And this was a delightful way of doing it.  It is “a system of espionage” that prevails under every form of government.  How he gazed, and gazed, on his now polar star; studied every turn, every gesture, with eager delight, and tried to gather what she said, or at least the nature of it.