; "a woman is expected to have admirers; they only render her
more valuable in the eyes of her husband. I should not consent to offend
this devoted friend without some strong incentive. But to insure being
present at Madame de Fleury's ball, I would agree to anything. So, it is
a bargain: if I obtain you my husband's vote, you obtain me this
invitation?"

"That is our compact," answered Madeleine.

"Agreed. I shall return home with a light heart; you have cheered me
wonderfully; I am inclined to be so amiable to all the world, my husband
included, that all the world and my husband are your debtors. When shall
I receive the good news that you have conquered Madame de Fleury?"

"At whatever time you think you will be prepared to send me the
intelligence that you have vanquished Mr. Gilmer."

"That will be this evening, before my husband goes to his club."

"By this evening, then, I will have procured you the invitation."

"Remember, I depend upon you. Good-morning."

Mrs. Gilmer departed in high good-humor, leaving Madeleine reflecting
with regret upon the tools which harsh circumstance seemed to force her
to use.

CHAPTER XXIX.

A CONTEST.

When Mrs. Gilmer took her leave, Madeleine returned to the seclusion of
her own boudoir, having first given orders that she should be apprised
when Madame de Fleury made her appearance.

Madeleine was unnerved by the agitating incidents of the morning. There
are days into which emotions which might fill years are crowded. It was
long since she had felt oppressed by such a sense of lassitude and
melancholy. Her interview with Maurice had stirred all the tenderest
chords of her spirit, yet left them vibrating sadly. The mysterious
visit of Count Tristan had perplexed her mind with ominous forebodings.
She could scarcely be said to have seen through his machinations, yet
she had an instinctive disbelief in his sincerity, and the uprightness
of his motives,--a disbelief which she vainly tried to conceal from
herself. More painful still had been her conversation with Lord Linden;
she could not fail to perceive that he assumed the attitude of a lover,
and she felt humbled at having _apparently allowed_, or rather
_ignored_, such a position. Lastly, her late _bargaining scene_ with
Mrs. Gilmer had disturbed Madeleine's sense of delicacy; and a similar
scene remained to be enacted with Madame de Fleury.

Madeleine involuntarily rubbed her eyes, as though she were trying