'We need no introduction, cousin,' she said, giving a hand to be

saluted. 'I knew you instantly. It is the old face of Chateau

Leurre, only gone up so high and become so handsome.'

'Cousins,' thought he. 'Well, it makes things easier! but what

audacity to be so much at her ease, when Lucy would have sunk into

the earth with shame.' His bow had saved him the necessity of

answering in words, and the lady continued:

'And Madame votre mere. Is she well? She was very good to me.'

Berenger did not think that kindness to Eustacie had been her chief

perfection, but he answered that she was well and sent her

commendations, which the young lady acknowledged by a magnificent

curtsey.

'And as beautiful as ever?' she asked.

'Quite as beautiful,' he said, 'only somewhat more embonpoint.'

'Ah!' she said, smiling graciously, and raising her splendid eyes

to his face, 'I understand better what that famous beauty was now,

and the fairness that caused her to be called the Swan.'

It was so personal that the colour rushed again into his cheek. No

one had ever so presumed to admire him; and with a degree gratified

and surprised, and sensible more and more of the extreme beauty of

the lady, there was a sort of alarm about him as if this were the

very fascination he had been warned against, and as if she were

casting a net about him, which, wife as she was, it would be

impossible to him to break.

'Nay, Monsieur,' she laughed, 'is a word from one so near too much

for your modesty? Is it possible that no one has yet told you of

your good mien? Or do they not appreciate Greek noses and blue

eyes in the land of fat Englishmen? How have you ever lived en

province? Our princes are ready to hang themselves at the

thought of being in such banishment, even at court--indeed,

Monsieur has contrived to transfer the noose to M. d'Alengon. Have

you been at court, cousin?'

'I have been presented to the Queen.'

She then proceeded to ask questions about the chief personages with

a rapid intelligence that surprised him as well as alarmed him, for

he felt more and more in the power of a very clever as well as

beautiful woman, and the attraction she exercised made him long the

more to escape; but she smiled and signed away several cavaliers

who would have gained her attention. She spoke of Queen Mary of

Scotland, then in the fifth years of her captivity, and asked if he

did not feel bound to her service by having been once her partner.

Did not he remember that dance?




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