Repentigny.

The Chevalier des Meloises had no idea of his sister's own aims. He had
long nourished a foolish fancy that, if he had not obtained the hand of
the wealthy and beautiful heiress of Repentigny, it was because he had
not proposed. Something to-day had suggested the thought that unless he
did propose soon his chances would be nil, and another might secure the
prize which he had in his vain fancy set down as his own.

He hinted to Angelique to-day that he had almost resolved to marry, and
that his projected alliance with the noble and wealthy house of Tilly
could be easily accomplished if Angelique would only do her share, as a
sister ought, in securing her brother's fortune and happiness.

"How?" asked she, looking up savagely, for she knew well at what her
brother was driving.

"By your accepting Le Gardeur without more delay! All the city knows he
is mad in love, and would marry you any day you choose if you wore only
the hair on your head. He would ask no better fortune!"

"It is useless to advise me, Renaud!" said she, "and whether I take Le
Gardeur or no it would not help your chance with Amelie! I am sorry for
it, for Amelie is a prize, Renaud! but not for you at any price. Let
me tell you, that desirable young lady will become the bride of Pierre
Philibert, and the bride of no other man living."

"You give one cold encouragement, sister! But I am sure, if you would
only marry Le Gardeur, you could easily, with your tact and cleverness,
induce Amelie to let me share the Tilly fortune. There are chests full
of gold in the old Manor House, and a crow could hardly fly in a day
over their broad lands!"

"Perfectly useless, brother! Amelie is not like most girls. She would
refuse the hand of a king for the sake of the man she loves, and she
loves Pierre Philibert to his finger-ends. She has married him in her
heart a thousand times. I hate paragons of women, and would scorn to
be one, but I tell you, brother, Amelie is a paragon of a girl, without
knowing it!"

"Hum, I never tried my hand on a paragon: I should like to do so,"
replied he, with a smile of decided confidence in his powers. "I fancy
they are just like other women when you can catch them with their armor
off."

"Yes, but women like Amelie never lay off their armor! They seem born in
it, like Minerva. But your vanity will not let you believe me, Renaud!
So go try her, and tell me your luck! She won't scratch you, nor scold.
Amelie is a