of the ladies, tantamount perhaps to utter
forgetfulness, was not the less painful.

It is true the gentleman who had witnessed the duel had come several
times, as if of his own accord, to inquire after them; it is true
Gillonne had done the same; but La Mole had not ventured to speak to the
one concerning the queen; Coconnas had not ventured to speak to the
other of Madame de Nevers.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE GHOSTS.

For some time each of the young men kept his secret confined to his own
heart. At last their reserve burst its barriers, and the thought which
had so long occupied them escaped their lips, and both cemented their
friendship by this final proof, without which there is no
friendship,--namely, perfect confidence.

They were both madly in love--one with a princess and the other with a
queen.

For these two poor suitors there was something frightful in the almost
insuperable distance separating them from the objects of their desires.

And yet hope is a sentiment so deeply rooted in man's heart that in
spite of the madness of their love they hoped!

They both, as they recovered from their illness, took great pains with
their personal appearance. Every man, even the most indifferent to
physical appearance, has, at certain times, mute interviews with his
looking-glass, signs of intelligence, after which he generally leaves
his confidant, quite satisfied with the interview. Now our two young men
were not persons whose mirrors were compelled to give them harsh advice.
La Mole, delicate, pale, and elegant, had the beauty of distinction;
Coconnas, powerful, large-framed, and fresh-colored, had the beauty of
strength. He had more, for his recent illness had been of advantage to
him. He had become thinner, grown paler, and the famous scar which had
formerly caused him so much anxiety from its prismatic relationship to
the rainbow had disappeared, giving promise, probably like the
post-diluvian phenomenon, of a long series of lovely days and calm
nights.

Moreover, the most delicate attentions continued to be lavished on the
two wounded men, and each of them on the day when he was well enough to
rise found a _robe-de-chambre_ on the easy-chair nearest his bed; on the
day when he was able to dress himself, a complete suit of clothes;
moreover, in the pocket of each doublet was a well-filled purse, which
they each kept, intending, of course, to return, in the proper time and
place, to the unknown protector