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But to write blankly to inform the Earl of Romfrey that he was excluded from his own house was another impossibility. 'Hateful man! she apostrophized Captain Baskelett, and sat down, supporting her chin in a prolonged meditation. The card of a French lady, bearing the name of Madame d'Auffray, was handed to her.
'Has she, do you think, increased in beauty? Madame d'Auffray inquired: an insidious question, to which he replied: 'Once I thought it would be impossible. Not so bad an answer for an Englishman, in a country where speaking is fencing; the race being little famous for dialectical alertness: but was it artful or simple?
He went up-stairs to the drawing-room, where he beheld Madame d'Auffray in conversation with Rosamund. 'I was assured by Madame la Comtesse that I should see you to-day, the French lady said as she swam to meet him; 'it is a real pleasure': and pressing his hand she continued, 'but I fear you will be disappointed of seeing my sister. She would rashly try your climate at its worst period.
So well had the clever lady played the dupe that he forgot there was a part for him to play. Even the acquiescence of Rosamund in the title of countess bewildered him. 'Madame d'Auffray has been sitting for an hour with Madame de Rouaillout, said Rosamund. He spoke of Roland's coming.
As for me, I thought I could command M. d'Henriel, and I find he has neither reason in him nor obedience. Singular to say, I knew him just as well a week back as I do now, and then I liked him for his qualities or the absence of any. But how shall we avoid him on the road to Dianet? He is aware that we are going. 'Take M. Beauchamp by boat, said Madame d'Auffray.
'We, replied Madame d'Auffray, 'contend that the glove was not loyally won. The wager was upon your coming to the invitation, not upon your conquering the elements. As to his flaunting the glove for a favour, I would ask you, whom does he advertize by that? Gloves do not wear white; which fact compromises none but the wearer. He picked it up from the ground, and does not restore it; that is all.
'I had forgotten to tell you, monsieur, that I should be out for some hours in the morning. 'Are you aware, said Madame d'Auffray, 'that M. Beauchamp leaves us to-morrow? 'So soon? It was uttered hardly with a tone of disappointment. The marquise alighted, crying hold, to the stables, caressed her horse, and sent him off with a smack on the smoking flanks to meet the groom. 'To-morrow?
Beauchamp and he walked like loving comrades at school, questioning, answering, chattering, laughing, a beautiful sight to Renee, and she looked at Agrnes d'Auffray to ask her whether 'this Englishman' was not one of them in his frankness and freshness. Roland stopped to turn to Renee. 'I met d'Henriel on my ride here, he said with a sharp inquisitive expression of eye that passed immediately.
They skirted the chateau, and Beauchamp had the history of Dame Philiberte recounted to him, with a mixture of Gallic irony, innuendo, openness, touchingness, ridicule, and charity novel to his ears. Madame d'Auffray struck the note of intimacy earlier than is habitual. It was done delicately, like the tap of a finger-nail on a vase.
'We, replied Madame d'Auffray, 'contend that the glove was not loyally won. The wager was upon your coming to the invitation, not upon your conquering the elements. As to his flaunting the glove for a favour, I would ask you, whom does he advertize by that? Gloves do not wear white; which fact compromises none but the wearer. He picked it up from the ground, and does not restore it; that is all.
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