led up.

"You knew of this?" he asked, coming towards me.

"I knew of it."

"Then you lied to me yesterday."

I drew myself up, stiff as a broomstick.

"I do not understand," I answered coldly.

"Did you not give me your assurance that M. de Mancini would marry
Yvonne?"

"I did not, Monsieur. I did but tell you that he would wed your
daughter. And, ma foi! your daughter he has wed."

"You have fooled me, scelerat!" he blazed out. "You, who have been
sheltered by--"

"Father!" Yvonne interrupted, taking his arm. "M. de Luynes has behaved
no worse than have I, or any one of us, in this matter."

"No!" he cried, and pointed to Andrea. "'T is you who have wrought this
infamy. Eugene," he exclaimed, turning of a sudden to his son, "you have
a sword; wipe out this shame."

"Shame!" echoed Genevieve. "Oh, father, where is the shame? If it were
no shame for Andrea to marry Yvonne, surely--"

"Silence!" he thundered. "Eugene--"

But Eugene answered him with a contemptuous laugh.

"You are quick enough to call upon my sword, now that things have not
fallen out as you would have them. Where are your grooms now, Monsieur?"

"Insolent hound!" cried his father indignantly. Then, letting fall his
arms with something that was near akin to a sob--"Is there no one left
to do aught but mock me?" he groaned.

But this weakness was no more than momentary.

"Out of my house, sir!" he blazed, turning upon Andrea, and for a moment
methought he would have struck him. "Out of my house--you and this wife
of yours!"

"Father!" sobbed Genevieve, with hands outstretched in entreaty.

"Out of my house," he repeated, "and you also, M. de Luynes. Away with
you! Go with the master you have served so well." And, turning on his
heel, he strode towards the door.

"Father--dear father!" cried Genevieve, following him: he slammed the
door in her face for answer.

With a moan she sank down upon her knees, her frail body shaken by
convulsive sobs--Dieu! what a bridal morn was hers!

Andrea and Yvonne raised her and led her to a chair. Eugene watched them
with a cynical eye, then laughed brutally, and, gathering up his hat and
cloak, he moved towards the balcony door and vanished.

"Is M. de Luynes still there?" quoth Genevieve presently.

"I am here, Madame."

"You had best set out, Monsieur," she said. "We shall follow soon--very
soon."

I took Andrea aside and asked him whither it was his intention to take
his wife. He repl