A few months before our story begins, dancing had been added to the subjects taught.  This was a branch of education which Monsieur Dessin did not impart to the inhabitants of Derby, where indeed he had but few pupils, the principal portion of his scanty income being derived from his payments from the Chace.  He had, however, acceded willingly enough to Mistress Dorothy’s request, his consent perhaps being partly due to the proposition that, as it would be necessary that the boy should have a partner, a pony with a groom should be sent over twice a week to Derby to fetch his little daughter Adele out to the Chace, where, when the lesson was over, she could amuse herself in the grounds until her father was free to accompany her home.

In those days dancing was an art to be acquired only with long study.  It was a necessity that a gentleman should dance, and dance well, and the stately minuet required accuracy, grace, and dignity.  Dancing in those days was an art; it has fallen grievously from that high estate.

Between Monsieur Dessin and the old cavalier a cordial friendship reigned.  The former had never spoken of his past history, but the colonel never doubted that, like so many refugees who sought our shore from France from the date of the revocation of the edict of Nantes to the close of the great revolution, he was of noble blood, an exile from his country on account of his religion or political opinions; and the colonel tried in every way to repay to him the hospitality and kindness which he himself had received during his long exile in France.  Very often, when lessons were over, the two would stroll in the garden, talking over Paris and its court; and it was only the thought of his little daughter, alone in his dull lodgings in Derby, that prevented Monsieur Dessin from accepting the warm invitation to the evening meal which the colonel often pressed upon him.  During the daytime he could leave her, for Adele went to the first ladies’ school in the town, where she received an education in return for her talking French to the younger pupils.  It was on her half holidays that she came over to dance with Rupert Holliday.

Mistress Dorothy did not approve of her son’s devotion to fencing, although she had no objection to his acquiring the courtly accomplishments of dancing and the French language; but her opposition was useless.  Colonel Holliday reminded her of the terms of their agreement, that she was to be mistress of the Chace, and that he was to superintend Rupert’s education.  Upon the present occasion, when the lad had left the room, she again protested against what she termed a waste of time.

“It is no waste of time, madam,” the old cavalier said, more firmly than he was accustomed to speak to his daughter-in-law.  “Rupert will never grow up a man thrusting himself into quarrels; and believe me, the reputation of being the best swordsman at the court will keep him out of them.  In Monsieur Dessin and myself I may say that he has had two great teachers.  In my young days there was no finer blade at the Court of France than I was; and Monsieur Dessin is, in the new style, what I was in the old.  The lad may be a soldier—­”