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"'Oh, M. Louet. said she, 'it is very horrible to see a man die! "At that moment we heard a voice exclaiming 'Stop, cowardly villain! Wait for me! "'Ernest! exclaimed Zephyrine. 'It is the voice of Ernest! "As she spoke the captain rushed in, covered with blood. "'Zephyrine! cried he, 'Zephyrine, where are you?
The short interval was ended: the band, with long-drawn chords, sounded a prelude touched with significance; and the programme, in letters overtopping their fellows, proclaimed Zephyrine, the Bride of the Desert, in her unequalled bareback equestrian interlude. So sated was I already with beauty and with wit, that I hardly dared hope for a fresh emotion.
The cat-like spirit of eavesdropping overcame him at once. He stole nearer and nearer on the couple from behind, until he was within earshot. "That is the man," the Britisher was saying; "there with the long blond hair speaking to a girl in green." Silas identified a very handsome young fellow of small stature, who was plainly the object of this designation. "It is well," said Madame Zéphyrine.
In course of time he had learned that she was known by the name of Madame Zephyrine, and that whatever station she occupied in life it was not that of a person of title.
Mr. Scuddamore was moved to a very acute feeling of annoyance; he condemned Madame Zephyrine unmercifully; he even blamed himself; but when he found, next day, that she had taken no means to baulk him of his favourite pastime, he continued to profit by her carelessness, and gratify his idle curiosity.
Yet her title was tinged with romance, and Coralie's display had aroused in me an interest in her sex which even herself had failed to satisfy entirely. Brayed in by trumpets, Zephyrine swung passionately into the arena.
"Suddenly there was a deep sigh, then the noise of a fall, and one of the sentries at the mouth of the cave came rolling to our feet. A random shot had struck him, and as he just fell in, a ray of light which entered the grotto, we were able to see him writhing in the agonies of death. Mademoiselle Zephyrine seized my hands, and I felt that she trembled violently.
"I have studied his taste to a nicety, and I tell you again and again you are the only woman of the sort that I can lay my hands on." In answer to this, Madame Zéphyrine sighed, and appeared by a gesture to resign herself, like one yielding to unqualified authority.
"'Take away this carrion, said Ernest. "Two soldiers turned the body over. It was the last of the Beaumanoirs. "We remained but a few minutes at the house, and then Zephyrine and myself got into a carriage and set off, escorted by M. Ernest and a dozen men. I did not forget to carry off my hundred crowns, my fowling-piece, and game-bag.
"'And Mademoiselle Zephyrine? "'I heard that she married M. Ernest, whose other name I never knew, and that he became a general, and she a very great lady." "'And Captain Tonino? Did you hear nothing more of him? "'Three years afterwards he came to the theatre in disguise; was recognised, arrested, and hung.
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