ou to M.
and Mme. du Roy de Cantel, senior."

She laughed too and replied: "I am charmed now! They are nice people
whom I am beginning to like very much. I shall send them confections
from Paris." Then she murmured: "Du Roy de Cantel. We will say that we
spent a week at your parents' estate," and drawing near him, she kissed
him saying:

"Good morning, Georges."

He replied: "Good morning, Madeleine," as he slipped his arm around her
waist.

CHAPTER X.

JEALOUSY

The Du Roys had been in Paris two days and the journalist had resumed
work; he had given up his own especial province to assume that of
Forestier, and to devote himself entirely to politics. On this
particular evening he turned his steps toward home with a light heart.
As he passed a florist's on Rue Notre Dame de Lorette he bought a
bouquet of half-open roses for Madeleine. Having forgotten his key, on
arriving at his door, he rang and the servant answered his summons.

Georges asked: "Is Madame at home?"

"Yes, sir."

In the dining-room he paused in astonishment to see covers laid for
three: the door of the salon being ajar, he saw Madeleine arranging in
a vase on the mantelpiece a bunch of roses similar to his.

He entered the room and asked: "Have you invited anyone to dinner?"

She replied without turning her head and continuing the arrangement of
her flowers: "Yes and no: it is my old friend, Count de Vaudrec, who is
in the habit of dining here every Monday and who will come now as he
always has."

Georges murmured: "Very well."

He stopped behind her, the bouquet in his hand, the desire strong
within him to conceal it--to throw it away. However, he said:

"Here, I have brought you some roses!"

She turned to him with a smile and said: "Ah, how thoughtful of you!"
and she kissed him with such evident affection that he felt consoled.

She took the flowers, inhaled their perfume, and put them in an empty
vase. Then she said as she noted the effect: "Now I am satisfied; my
mantelpiece looks pretty," adding with an air of conviction:

"Vaudrec is charming; you will become intimate with him at once,"

A ring announced the Count. He entered as if he were at home. After
gallantly kissing Mme. Du Roy's hand, he turned to her husband and
cordially offered his hand, saying: "How are you, my dear Du Roy?"

He had no longer that haughty air, but was very affable. One would have
thought in the course of five minutes, that the two men h