he fire, swearing that they were toys for
children and that I must grant him his revanche with cards. The cards
were furnished us, and with a fortune that varied little we played
lansquenet until long past midnight. The fire died out in the grate, and
the air grew chill, until at last, with a violent sneeze, La Vrilliere
protested that he would play no more.

Cursing himself for the unluckiest being alive, the fool bade me
good-night, and left me seventy pistoles richer than when I had met him.

CHAPTER VII. THE CHATEAU DE CANAPLES

Despite the strenuous efforts which Andrea compelled us to put forth, we
did not again come up with Mesdemoiselles de Canaples, who in truth must
have travelled with greater speed than ladies are wont to.

This circumstance bred much discomfort in Andrea's bosom; for in it he
read that his Genevieve thought not of him as he of her, else, knowing
that he followed the same road, she would have retarded their progress
so that he might overtake them. Thus argued he when on the following
night, which was that of Friday, we lay at Orleans. But when towards
noon on Saturday our journey ended with our arrival at Blois, he went so
far as to conclude that she had hastened on expressly to avoid him. Now,
from what I had seen of Mademoiselle Yvonne, methought I might hazard
a guess that she it was who commanded in these--and haply, too, in
other--matters, and that the manner of their journey had been such as
was best to her wishes.

With such an argument did I strive to appease Andrea's doubts; but all
in vain--which is indeed no matter for astonishment, for to reason with
a man in love is to reason with one who knows no reason.

After a brief halt at the Lys de France--at which hostelry I hired
myself a room--we set out for the Chateau de Canaples, which is situated
on the left bank of the Loire, at a distance of about half a league from
Blois in the direction of Tours.

We cut a brave enough figure as we rode down the Rue Vieille attended by
our servants, and many a rustic Blaisois stopped to gape at us, to nudge
his companion, and point us out, whispering the word "Paris."

I had donned my grey velvet doublet--deeming the occasion worthy of
it--whilst Andrea wore a handsome suit of black, with gold lace,
which for elegance it would have been difficult to surpass. An air of
pensiveness added interest to his handsome face and courtly figure, and
methought that Genevieve must be hard to