o months since he came here,
and yet the--er--affair which we had hoped to bring about seems no
nearer its conclusion than when first he came. Of late I have watched
him and I have watched Yvonne; they are certainly good friends, yet not
even the frail barrier of formality appears overcome betwixt them, and
I am beginning to fear that Andrea is not only lukewarm in this matter,
but is forgetful of his uncle's wishes and selfishly indifferent to
Monseigneur's projects and mine, which, as he well knows, are the reason
of his sojourn at my chateau. What think you of this, M. de Luynes?"

He shot a furtive glance at me as he spoke, and with his long, lean
forefinger he combed his beard in a nervous fashion.

I gave a short laugh to cover my embarrassment at the question.

"What do I think, Monsieur?" I echoed to gain time. Then, thinking that
a sententious answer would be the most fitting,--"Ma foi! Love is as the
spark that lies latent in flint and steel: for days and weeks these two
may be as close together as you please, and naught will come of it; but
one fine day, a hand--the hand of chance--will strike the one against
the other, and lo!--the spark is born!"

"You speak in parables, Monsieur," was his caustic comment.

"'T is in parables that all religions are preached," I returned, "and
love, methinks, is a great religion in this world."

"Love, sir, love!" he cried petulantly. "The word makes me sick! What
has love to do with this union? Love, sir, is a pretty theme for poets,
romancers, and fools. The imagination of such a sentiment--for it is a
sentiment that does not live save in the imagination--may serve to draw
peasants and other low-bred clods into wedlock. With such as we--with
gentlemen--it has naught to do. So let that be, Monsieur. Andrea de
Mancini came hither to wed my daughter."

"And I am certain, Monsieur," I answered stoutly, "that Andrea will wed
your daughter."

"You speak with confidence."

"I know Andrea well. Signs that may be hidden to you are clear to me,
and I have faith in my prophecy."

He looked at me, and fell a victim to my confidence of manner. The
petulancy died out of his face.

"Well, well! We will hope. My Lord Cardinal is to create him Duke, and
he will assume as title his wife's estate, becoming known to history as
Andrea de Mancini, Duke of Canaples. Thus shall a great house be founded
that will bear our name. You see the importance of it?"

"Clearly."

"And how r