say. But no matter. Pray
be careful of your voice. Nothing is so difficult to disguise as the
voice. I always detect a man instantly by his voice; though, to be sure,
De Montalvan is not experienced, like me, and there will be up trouble
in deceiving him. Now let me see you walk."

Virginie took a few steps to and fro.

"My dear friend, don't stride like that," said De Berniers; "short
steps, in this manner, if you please";--and he mincingly illustrated, to
Virginie's intense gratification.

"Now, a salutation," he added.

Virginie courtesied.

"Bad, bad," said De Berniers; "it is clear you are not used to this sort
of thing. Try this";--and he executed a profound feminine obeisance.

"That's better," he remarked, approvingly, as she affected to imitate
him; "and now these shoulders. Ah, but these shoulders are very bad. You
should curve them forward, thus,"--with which he seized Virginie's
shoulders, and endeavored to press them into what he conceived to be the
proper position.

"Take your hands away, Monsieur," screamed the young lady, springing
from him with great precipitation.

"Ticklish, I see," he quietly remarked. "And now there is one thing
more. Whatever else you do, speak low, and do not swear. I have known
many a comedy of this sort to be ruined by an inadvertent oath."

"I will try, Monsieur."

Then De Montalvan was brought, and was in proper form presented. At
sight of him, Virginie faintly blushed, which circumstance enchanted De
Berniers. "The rascal does better than I could have expected," he
thought. After a short conversation, he contrived an excuse to leave
them alone together,--his accomplice and his dupe.

"At last, Mademoiselle," said De Montalvan, dismissing the pretence of
reserve which he had maintained during his friend's presence,--"at last
we meet again; but how unexpectedly, and under what strange
circumstances!"

"Indeed, Monsieur, I am hardly less surprised at seeing you again, than
I was at your mysterious disappearance from Paris, some months ago."

"But were you not aware--"

"Of what?"

"That I was ordered to accompany M. de Richelieu to Port Mahon?"

"The orders of M. de Richelieu must be very imperative."

"To a soldier they are, Mademoiselle. But at present I am not a soldier.
The expedition is gloriously ended, and I submit myself to your orders,
and to yours only."

* * * * *

During the few days that intervened before M. d