venture to speak about it," continued Caillette, meeting
the duke's gaze frankly, "but that you once honored me with your
confidence. That I was much puzzled when I met you and--our erstwhile
jestress--matters not. 'Twas for me to dismiss my wonderment, and not
strive to reconcile my neighbor's affairs. But when I hear every one
talking about my--friend, it is no gossip's task to come to him with
the unburdening of the prattle."

"What are they saying, Caillette?" asked the duke, in his eyes a darker
look.

"That you would wed this maid, but that the king will use his friendly
offices with Charles to prevent it."

"And do they say why Francis will so use his influence?" continued the
other.

"Because of the claim such a union might give an alien house to a vast
estate in France; the confiscated property of the Constable of Dubrois.
And--but the other reason is but babble, malice--what you will." And
Caillette's manner quickly changed from grave to frivolous. "Now, _au
revoir_; I'm off to Fools' hall," he concluded. "Whenever it becomes
dull for you, seek some of your old comrades there." And laughing,
Caillette disappeared.

Thoughtfully the duke continued to observe the jestress. Between them
whirled the votaries of pleasure; before him swept the fragrance of
delicate perfumes; in his ears sounded the subtile enticement of soft
laughter. Her face wore a proud, self-reliant expression; her eyes
that look which had made her seem so illusive from the inception of
their acquaintance. And now, since his identity had been revealed, she
had seemed more puzzling to him than ever. When he had sought her
glance, her look had told him nothing. It was as though with the
doffing of the motley she had discarded its recollections. In a
tentative mood, he had striven to fathom her, but found himself at a
loss. She had been neither reserved, nor had she avoided him; to her
the past seemed a page, lightly read and turned. Had Caillette truly
said "now she belonged to the world"?

Stepping upon one of the balconies overlooking the valley, the duke
gazed out over the tranquil face of nature, his figure drawn aside from
the flood of light within. Between heaven and earth, the chateau
reared its stately pile, and far downward those twinkling flashes
represented the town; yonder faint line, like a dark thread, the
encircling wall. Above the gate shone a glimmer from the narrow
casement of some officer's quarters; an