be made to feel that though duchesses may lend themselves to
love, they do not give themselves, and that the conquest of one
of them would prove a harder matter than the conquest of Europe.

"Madame," returned Armand, "I have not time to wait. I am a
spoilt child, as you told me yourself. When I seriously resolve
to have that of which we have been speaking, I shall have it."

"You will have it?" queried she, and there was a trace of
surprise in her loftiness.

"I shall have it."

"Oh! you would do me a great pleasure by 'resolving' to have it.
For curiosity's sake, I should be delighted to know how you would
set about it----"

"I am delighted to put a new interest into your life,"
interrupted Montriveau, breaking into a laugh which dismayed the
Duchess. "Will you permit me to take you to the ball tonight?"

"A thousand thanks. M. de Marsay has been beforehand with you. I
gave him my promise."

Montriveau bowed gravely and went.

"So Ronquerolles was right," thought he, "and now for a game
of chess."

Thenceforward he hid his agitation by complete composure. No man