d myself to those prudent
offices only which her state and my duty required. To console her on the
subject of her husband was impossible; to ignore him, and so to console
her, a task which neither my discretion nor my sense of honour, though
sorely tried, permitted me to undertake.

She presently recovered and, putting on her mask again, said hurriedly
that she had still a word to say to me. 'You have treated me honestly,'
she continued, 'and, though I have no cause to do anything but hate you,
I say in return, look to yourself! You escaped last night--I know all,
for it was my velvet knot--which I had made thinking to send it to you
to procure this meeting--that he used as a lure. But he is not yet at
the end of his resources. Look to yourself, therefore.'

I thought of the appointment I had made with him for the morrow, but I
confined myself to thanking her, merely saying, as I bowed over the hand
she resigned to me in token of farewell, 'Madame, I am grateful. I am
obliged to you both for your warning and your forgiveness.'

'Bending her head coldly she drew away her hand. At that moment, as I
lifted my eyes, I saw something which for an instant rooted me to the
spot with astonishment. In the entrance of the passage which led to the
Rue St. Denys two people were standing, watching us. The one was Simon
Fleix, and the other, a masked woman, a trifle below the middle height,
and clad in a riding-coat, was Mademoiselle de la Vire!

I knew her in a moment. But the relief I experienced on seeing her safe
and in Blois was not unmixed with annoyance that Simon Fleix should have
been so imprudent as to parade her unnecessarily in the street. I felt
something of confusion also on my own account; for I could not tell how
long she and her escort had been watching me. And these two feelings
were augmented when, after turning to pay a final salute to Madame
de Bruhl, I looked again towards the passage and discovered that
mademoiselle and her squire were gone.

Impatient as I was, I would not seem to leave madame rudely or without
feeling, after the consideration she had shown me in her own sorrow; and
accordingly I waited uncovered until she disappeared within the 'Little
Sisters.' Then I started eagerly towards my lodging, thinking I might
yet overtake mademoiselle before she entered. I was destined to meet,
however, with another though very pertinent hindrance. As I passed from
the Rue St. Denys into the quiet of my street