il, what shame the words had often
spelled! At the thought only she trembled and her colour ebbed. She
saw, as one who stands on the brink of a precipice, the depth which
yawned before her. She asked herself, shivering, if she would ever sink
to _that_.

All the loyalty of a strong nature, all the virtue of a good woman,
revolted against the thought. True, her husband--husband she must call
him--had not deserved her love; but his bizarre magnanimity, the gloomy,
disdainful kindness with which he had crowned possession, even the unity
of their interests, which he had impressed upon her in so strange a
fashion, claimed a return in honour.

To be paid--how? how? That was the crux which perplexed, which
frightened, which harassed her. For, if she told her suspicions, she
exposed her lover to capture by one who had no longer a reason to be
merciful. And if she sought occasion to see Tignonville and so to
dissuade him, she did it at deadly risk to herself. Yet what other
course lay open to her if she would not stand by? If she would not play
the traitor? If she--

"Madame,"--it was her husband, and he spoke to her suddenly,--"are you
not well?" And, looking up guiltily, she found his eyes fixed curiously
on hers.

Her face turned red and white and red again, and she faltered something
and looked from him, but only to meet Madame St. Lo's eyes. My lady
laughed softly in sheer mischief.

"What is it?" Count Hannibal asked sharply.

But Madame St. Lo's answer was a line of Ronsard.

CHAPTER XX. ON THE CASTLE HILL.

Thrice she hummed it, bland and smiling. Then from the neighbouring
group came an interruption. The wine he had drunk had put it into
Bigot's head to snatch a kiss from Suzanne; and Suzanne's modesty, which
was very nice in company, obliged her to squeal. The uproar which
ensued, the men backing the man and the women the woman, brought Tavannes
to his feet. He did not speak, but a glance from his eyes was enough.
There was not one who failed to see that something was amiss with him,
and a sudden silence fell on the party.

He turned to the Countess. "You wished to see the castle?" he said. "You
had better go now, but not alone." He cast his eyes over the company,
and summoned La Tribe, who was seated with the Carlats. "Go with
Madame," he said curtly. "She has a mind to climb the hill. Bear in
mind, we start at three, and do not venture out of hearing."

"I understand, M. le