dear Nanon, that the good people of Bordeaux propose either to frighten me or seduce me."
"What have you decided?"
"To receive him."
"Is there no way to avoid it?"
"Impossible. It is one of the customs which must be followed."
"Oh! mon Dieu!"
"What's the matter, Nanon?"
"I'm afraid – "
"Of what?"
"Didn't you say that the mission of this flag of truce was to frighten you or seduce you?"
"Of course; a flag of truce is good for nothing else. Are you afraid he'll frighten me?"
"Oh, no! but he may perhaps seduce you – "
"You insult me, Nanon."
"Alas! my dear, I only say what I am afraid of – "
"You distrust me to that extent? For what do you take me, pray?"
"For what you are, Canolles; a noble heart, but easily moved."
"Well, well!" laughed Canolles; "in God's name, who is this flag of truce? Can it be Dan Cupid in person?"
"Perhaps."
"Why, have you seen him?"
"I haven't seen him, but I heard his voice. It's a very soft voice for a flag of truce."
"You are mad, Nanon! let me do my duty. It was you who made me governor."
"To defend me, my dear."
"Well, do you think me dastard enough to betray you? Really, Nanon, you insult me by placing so little confidence in me!"
"You are determined, then, to see this young man?"
"I must, and I shall take it very ill of you if you make any further objection to my fulfilling my duty in that respect."
"You are free to do as you please, my dear," said Nanon, sadly. "One other word – "
"Say it."
"Where shall you receive him?"
"In my cabinet."
"Canolles, one favor – "
"What is it?"
"Receive him in your bedroom instead of your cabinet."
"What have you in your head?"
"Don't you understand?"
"No."
"My room opens into yours."
"And you will listen?"
"Behind your bed-curtains, if you will allow me." "Nanon!"
"Let me be near you, dear. I have faith in my star; I shall bring you luck."
"But, Nanon, suppose this flag of truce – "
"Well?"
"Should have some State secret to tell me?"
"Can you not intrust a State secret to her who has intrusted her life and her fortune to you?"
"Very well! listen to us, Nanon, if you insist upon it; but don't detain me any longer; the messenger is waiting for me."
"Go, Canolles, go; but, first, accept my loving thanks for your kindness to me!"
And the young woman would have kissed her lover's hand.
"Foolish girl!" said Canolles, pressing her to his heart and kissing her on the forehead; "so you will be – "
"Behind the curtains of your bed. There I can see and hear."
"Whatever else you do, don't laugh, Nanon, for these are serious matters."
"Have no fear," said Nanon. "I won't laugh."
Canolles ordered the messenger to be introduced, and passed into his own apartment, a room of great size, furnished under Charles IX. in a style of severe simplicity. Two candelabra were burning upon the chimney-piece, but their feeble glimmer was quite inadequate to light the immense apartment; the alcove at the farther end was entirely in shadow.
"Are you there, Nanon?" Canolles asked.
A stifled "Yes" reached his ears.
At that moment he heard steps in the corridor. The sentinel presented arms; the messenger entered and followed his introducer with his eyes, until he was, or thought he was, alone with Canolles. Then he removed his hat and threw back his cloak; immediately a mass of blond locks fell down over a pair of shapely shoulders, the graceful, willowy form of a woman appeared under the gold baldric, and Canolles, by the sad, sweet expression of her face, recognized the Vicomtesse de Cambes.
"I told you that I would seek you," she said, "and I keep my word; here I am."
Canolles clasped his hands and fell upon a chair in speechless amazement, and an agony of fear.
"You! you!" he muttered. "Mon Dieu! why are you here; what seek you here?"
"I have come to ask you, monsieur, if you still remember me."
Canolles heaved a heart-breaking sigh, and put his hands before his eyes, seeking to banish the ravishing but fatal apparition.
Everything was made clear to him in an instant; Nanon's alarm, her pallor, her trembling, and, above all, her desire to be present at the interview. Nanon, with the keen eyes of jealousy, had detected a woman in the flag of truce.
"I have come to ask you," continued Claire, "if you are ready to carry out the engagement you entered into with me in the little room at Jaulnay, – to send your resignation to the queen, and enter the service of the princes."
"Oh! silence! silence!" cried Canolles.
Claire shuddered at the accent of utter dismay in the commandant's voice, and glanced uneasily about the room.
"Are we not alone here?" she asked.
"We are, madame; but may not some one hear us through the walls?"
"I thought that the walls of Fort Saint-Georges were more solid than that," said Claire with a smile.
Canolles made no reply.
"I have come to ask you," Claire resumed, "how it happens that I have heard nothing of you during the eight or ten days you have been here, – so that I should still know nothing as to who is governor of Île Saint-Georges, had not chance, or public rumor, informed me that it is the man who swore to me, barely twelve days since, that his disgrace was the best of good fortune, since it enabled him to devote his arm, his courage, his life, to the party to which I belong."
Nanon could not repress a movement, which made Canolles jump and Madame de Cambes turn her head.
"Pray,
