was accustomed to render to her.  Aurilly was then reduced to hoping for rain or sun to make her remove her mask; but neither rain nor sun had any effect, and whenever they stopped Diana took her meals in her own room.  Aurilly tried to look through the keyholes, but Diana always sat with her back to the door.  He tried to peep through the windows, but there were always thick curtains drawn, or if none were there, cloaks were hung up to supply their place.  Neither questions, nor attempts at corruption, succeeded with Remy, who always declared that his mistress’s will was his.

“But these precautions are, then, taken only on my account?” said Aurilly.

“No, for everybody.”

“But M. d’Anjou saw her; she was not hidden then.”

“Pure chance; but it is just because he did see her that she is more careful than ever.”

Days passed on, and they were nearing their destination, but Aurilly’s curiosity had not been gratified.  Already Picardy appeared to the eyes of the travelers.

Aurilly began to lose patience, and the bad passions of his nature to gain the ascendant.  He began to suspect some secret under all this mystery.  One day he remained a little behind with Remy, and renewed his attempts at seduction, which Remy repulsed as usual.

“But,” said Aurilly, “some day or other I must see your mistress.”

“Doubtless,” said Remy; “but that will be when she likes, and not when you like.”

“But if I employ force.”

“Try,” said Remy, while a lightning glance, which he could not repress, shot from his eyes.

Aurilly tried to laugh.  “What a fool I am!” said he; “what does it matter to me who she is?  She is the same person whom the duke saw.”

“Certainly.”

“And whom he told me to bring to Chateau-Thierry.”

“Yes.”

“Well! that is all that is necessary.  It is not I who am in love with her, it is monseigneur; and provided that you do not seek to escape or fly—­”

“Do we appear to wish to do so?”

“No.”

“And she so little desires to do so, that were you not here we should continue our way to Chateau-Thierry; if the duke wishes to see us, we wish also to see him.”

“That is capital,” said Aurilly.  “Would your mistress like to rest here a little while?” continued he, pointing to a hotel on the road.

“You know,” said Remy, “that my mistress never stops but in towns.”

“Well, I, who have made no such vow, will stop here a moment; ride on, and I will follow.”

Remy rejoined Diana.

“What was he saying?” asked she.

“He expressed his constant desire—­”

“To see me?”

“Yes.”

Diana smiled.

“He is furious,” continued Remy.

“He shall not see me; of that I am determined.”

“But once we are at Chateau-Thierry, must he not see your face?”