Princess
de Gonzague told her husband that she lived only in the hope of
recovering her child, and that she would kill herself if she were not
left in peace."

He paused for a moment. AEsop spurred him on: "Well, go on, go on."

Peyrolles cleared his throat. Being frank was neither habitual nor
pleasant. "As the princess had absolute control of the wealth of her dead
husband, the Duke de Nevers, and as she promised to allow my master the
use of her fortune as long as he--"

Again he paused, and AEsop interpolated: "Left her in peace."

Peyrolles accepted the suggestion. "Exactly--my master, who is a perfect
gentleman, accepted the situation. Since that day they seldom meet,
seldom speak. The princess always wears mourning--"

AEsop shivered. "Cheerful spouse."

Peyrolles went on: "While the Prince de Gonzague lives a bright life, and
sets the mode in wit, dress, vice--in every way the perfect gentleman,
and now the favorite companion and friend of his melancholy majesty,
whose natural sadness at the loss of the great cardinal he does his best
to alleviate."

AEsop laughed mockingly as Peyrolles mouthed his approvals. "Lucky groom.
But if he can spend the money, why does he want the girl?"

Peyrolles answered, promptly: "To please the princess, and prove himself
the devoted husband."

AEsop was persistent: "What is the real reason?"

Peyrolles, with a grimace, again consented to be frank: "As Mademoiselle
de Nevers is not proved to be dead, the law assumes her to be alive, and
it is as the guardian of this impalpable young person that my dear master
handles the revenues of Nevers. If she were certainly dead, my master
would inherit."

AEsop still required information. "Then why the devil does he want to
prove that she lives?"

There was again a touch of condescension in Peyrolles's manner: "You are
not so keen as you think, good AEsop. Mademoiselle de Nevers, recovered,
restored to her mother's arms, the recognized heiress of so much wealth,
might seem to be a very lucky young woman. But even lucky young women are
not immortal."

AEsop chuckled. "Oh, oh, oh! If the lost-and-found young lady were to die
soon after her recovery the good Louis de Gonzague would inherit without
further question. I fear my little gypsy is not promised a long life."

Peyrolles smiled sourly. "Let me see your little gypsy."

AEsop hesitated for a moment. It evidently went against his grain to
oblige Peyrolles--or, for that ma