ness and innate jealousy of the sex, which
would not content itself with just so much of a man's favor as he chose
to bestow, but must ever want to rule single and alone. "Every woman is
a despot," thought he, "and has no mercy upon pretenders to her throne."

"That lady," replied he, "is neither wife nor mistress, Mademoiselle:
she sought the shelter of my roof with a claim upon the hospitality of
Beaumanoir.

"No doubt"--Angelique's nostril quivered with a fine disdain--"the
hospitality of Beaumanoir is as broad and comprehensive as its master's
admiration for our sex!" said she.

Bigot was not angry. He gave a loud laugh. "You women are merciless upon
each other, Mademoiselle!" said he.

"Men are more merciless to women when they beguile us with insincere
professions," replied she, rising up in well-affected indignation.

"Not so, Mademoiselle!" Bigot began to feel annoyed. "That lady is
nothing to me," said he, without rising as she had done. He kept his
seat.

"But she has been! you have loved her at some time or other! and she is
now living on the scraps and leavings of former affection. I am never
deceived, Chevalier!" continued she, glancing down at him, a wild light
playing under her long eyelashes like the illumined under-edge of a
thundercloud.

"But how in St. Picot's name did you arrive at all this knowledge,
Mademoiselle?" Bigot began to see that there was nothing for it but
to comply with every caprice of this incomprehensible girl if he would
carry his point.

"Oh, nothing is easier than for a woman to divine the truth in such
matters, Chevalier," said she. "It is a sixth sense given to our sex to
protect our weakness: no man can make love to two women but each of them
knows instinctively to her finger-tips that he is doing it."

"Surely woman is a beautiful book written in golden letters, but in a
tongue as hard to understand as hieroglyphics of Egypt." Bigot was quite
puzzled how to proceed with this incomprehensible girl.

"Thanks for the comparison, Chevalier," replied she, with a laugh. "It
would not do for men to scrutinize us too closely, yet one woman reads
another easily as a horn-book of Troyes, which they say is so easy that
the children read it without learning."

To boldly set at defiance a man who had boasted a long career of success
was the way to rouse his pride, and determine him to overcome her
resistance. Angelique was not mistaken. Bigot saw her resolution, and,
although