b in Place Vendome,
and touching whose identity I could have hazarded a shrewd guess.

In her eyes also I saw the light of recognition which swiftly changed to
one of scorn. Then they passed from me to the vanishing Jeanneton, and
methought that she was about to call her back. She paused, however, and,
turning to the lackey who followed at her heels.

"Guilbert," she said, "be good enough to call the landlord, and bid him
provide me with an apartment for the time that we may be forced to spend
here."

But at this juncture the host himself came hurrying forward with many
bows and endless rubbing of hands, which argued untold deference. He
regretted that the hostelry of the Connetable, being but a poor inn,
seldom honoured as it was at that moment, possessed but one suite of
private apartments, and that was now occupied by a most noble gentleman.
The lady tapped her foot, and as at that moment her companion (who was
none other than the fair-haired doll I had seen with her on the previous
day) entered the room, she turned to speak with her, whilst I moved away
towards the window.

"Will this gentleman," she inquired, "lend me one of his rooms, think
you?"

"Helas, Mademoiselle, he has but two, a bedroom and an ante-chamber, and
he is still abed."

"Oh!" she cried in pretty anger, "this is insufferable! 'T is your
fault, Guilbert, you fool. Am I, then, to spend the day here in the
common-room?"

"No, no, Mademoiselle," exclaimed the host in his most soothing accents.
"Only for an hour, or less, perhaps, until this very noble lord is
risen, when assuredly--for he is young and very gallant--he will resign
one or both of his rooms to you."

More was said between them, but my attention was suddenly drawn
elsewhere. Michelot burst into the room, disaster written on his face.

"Monsieur," he cried, in great alarm, "the Marquis de St. Auban
is riding down the street with the Vicomte de Vilmorin and another
gentleman."

I rapped out an oath at the news; they had got scent of Andrea's
whereabouts, and were after him like sleuth-hounds on a trail.

"Remain here, Michelot," I answered in a low voice. "Tell them that
M. de Mancini is not here, that the only occupant of the inn is your
master, a gentleman from Normandy, or Picardy, or where you will.
See that they do not guess our presence--the landlord fortunately is
ignorant of M. de Mancini's name."

There was a clatter of horses' hoofs without, and I was barely in ti