Angelique accepted his admiration as her due, feeling no thanks, but
looking many.
"The Chevalier Bigot does not lose his politeness, however long he
absents himself!" said she, with a glance like a Parthian arrow well
aimed to strike home.
"I have been hunting at Beaumanoir," replied he extenuatingly; "that
must explain, not excuse, my apparent neglect." Bigot felt that he
had really been a loser by his absence.
"Hunting! indeed!" Angelique affected a touch of surprise, as if
she had not known every tittle of gossip about the gay party and all
their doings at the Chateau. "They say game is growing scarce near
the city, Chevalier," continued she nonchalantly, "and that a
hunting party at Beaumanoir is but a pretty metonomy for a party of
pleasure is that true?"
"Quite true, mademoiselle," replied he, laughing. "The two things
are perfectly compatible,--like a brace of lovers, all the better
for being made one."
"Very gallantly said!" retorted she, with a ripple of dangerous
laughter. "I will carry the comparison no farther.
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