"
De Pean led him into a recess of the room. "You are wanted in the
city," whispered he. "Angelique sent this little note by me. She
put it in my hand as I was embarking for Tilly, and blushed redder
than a rose as she did so. I promised to deliver it safely to you."
It was a note quaintly folded in a style Le Gardeur recognized well,
inviting him to return to the city. Its language was a mixture of
light persiflage and tantalizing coquetry,--she was dying of the
dullness of the city! The late ball at the Palace had been a
failure, lacking the presence of Le Gardeur! Her house was forlorn
without the visits of her dear friend, and she wanted his trusty
counsel in an affair of the last importance to her welfare and
happiness!
"That girl loves you, and you may have her for the asking!"
continued De Pean, as Le Gardeur sat crumpling the letter up in his
hand. De Pean watched his countenance with the eye of a basilisk.
"Do you think so?" asked Le Gardeur eagerly. "But no, I have no
more faith in woman; she does not mean it!"
"But if she does mean it, would you go, Le Gardeur?"
"Would I go?" replied he, excitedly.
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