I did!  I entreated to see you.  I would not sign the application till—­Oh, there has been treachery!  And have they made you too sign it!’

When they showed me your name they were welcome to mine.’

Berenger struck his forehead with wrath and perplexity, then cried, joyfully, ’It will not stand for moment.  So foul a cheat can be at once exposed.  Eutacie, you know—­you understand, that it was not you but Diane whom I saw and detested; and no wonder, when she was acting such a cruel treason!’

‘Oh no, Diane would never so treat me,’ cried Eustacie.  ’I see how it was!  You did not know that my father was latterly called Marquis de Nid-de-Merle, and when they brought me here, they WOULD call me after him:  they said a maid of honour must be Demoiselle, and my uncle said there was only one way in which I could remain Madame de Ribaumont!  And the name must have deceived you.  Thou wast always a great dull boy,’ she added, with a sudden assumption of childish intimacy that annihilated the nine years since their parting.

’Had I seen thee, I had not mistaken for an instant.  This little face stirred my heart; hers repelled me.  And she deceived me wittingly, Eustacie, for I asked after her by name.’

’Ah, she wished to spare my embarrassment.  And then her brother must have dealt with her.’

‘I see,’ exclaimed Berenger, ’I am to be palmed off thus that thou mayest be reserved for Narcisse.  Tell me, Eustacie, wast thou willing?’

‘I hate Narcisse!’ she cried.  ’But oh, I am lingering too long.  Monsieur will make some hateful tale!  I never fell into his way before, my Queen and Madame la Comtesse are so careful.  Only to-day, as I was attending her alone, the King came and gave her his arm, and I had to drop behind.  I must find her; I shall be missed,’ she added, in sudden alarm.  ‘Oh, what will they say?’

‘No blame for being with thy husband,’ he answered, clasping her hand.  ’Thou art mine henceforth.  I will soon cut our way out of the web thy treacherous kindred have woven.  Meantime—–­’

‘Hush!  There are voices,’ cried Eustacie in terror, and, guided by something he could not discern, she fled with the swiftness of a bird down the alley.  Following, with the utmost speed that might not bear the appearance of pursuit, he found that on coming to the turn she had moderated her pace, and was more tranquilly advancing to a bevy of ladies, who sat perched on the stone steps like great butterflies sunning themselves, watching the game, and receiving the attentions of their cavaliers.  He saw her absorbed into the group, and then began to prowl round it, in the alleys, in a tumult of amazement and indignation.  He had been shamefully deceived and cheated, and justice he would have!  He had been deprived of a thing of his own, and he would assert his right.  He had been made to injure and disown the creature he was bound to protect, and he must console her and