knot of ribbon which mademoiselle had flung to me at my departure from
Rosny was gone from the inside of the breast, where I had pinned it for
safety with a long thorn. The discovery that M. de Rosny had taken this
was displeasing to me on more than one account. In the first place,
whether mademoiselle had merely wished to plague me (as was most
probable) or not, I was loth to lose it, my day for ladies' favours
being past and gone; in the second, I misdoubted the motive which
had led him to purloin it, and tormented myself with thinking of the
different constructions he might put upon it, and the disparaging view
of my trust worthiness which it might lead him to take. I blamed myself
much for my carelessness in leaving it where a chance eye might rest
upon it; and more when, questioning Simon further, I learned that M.
de Rosny had added, while mounting at the door, 'Tell your master, safe
bind, safe find; and a careless lover makes a loose mistress.'

I felt my cheek burn in a manner unbecoming my years while Simon with
some touch of malice repeated this; and I made a vow on the spot, which
I kept until I was tempted to break it, to have no more to do with such
trifles. Meanwhile, I had to make the best of it; and brisking up, and
bidding Simon, who seemed depressed by the baron's departure, brisk up
also, I set about my preparations for making such a figure at Court
as became me: procuring a black velvet suit, and a cap and feather to
match; item, a jewelled clasp to secure the feather; with a yard or two
of lace and two changes of fine linen.

Simon had grown sleek at Rosny, and losing something of the wildness
which had marked him, presented in the dress M. de Rosny had given him
a very creditable appearance; being also, I fancy, the only equerry in
Blois who could write. A groom I engaged on the recommendation of M. de
Rambouillet's master of the horse; and I gave out also that I required a
couple of valets. It needed only an hour under the barber's hands and a
set of new trappings for the Cid to enable me to make a fair show, such
as might be taken to indicate a man of ten or twelve thousand livres a
year.

In this way I expended a hundred and fifteen crowns reflecting that
this was a large sum, and that I must keep some money for play, I was
glad to learn that in the crowded state of the city even men with high
rank were putting up with poor lodging; I determined, therefore, to
combine economy with a scheme w