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20 my uncle. You do not like him, and so would have me share your feeling. We'll say no more;" and with a sigh she leant back to think.

Lucette, seeing her mood, resumed her work and set her wheel speeding busily on; but chancing to glance round a moment later she stopped abruptly with an exclamation of surprise which attracted Gabrielle's attention.

A man was standing close behind Gabrielle's chair in an attitude of excessive humility. He bowed low and spread out his hands as she turned to him, while an expressive curl of contempt drew down the corners of Lucette's mouth.

"What is it? Why did you not say you were here?" asked Gabrielle sharply.

"I feared to interrupt miladi, and was awaiting your permission to speak my errand." His voice was soft and his manner deferential.

"What is it? Speak."

"My master, the Baron de Proballe, desires to know if it is convenient for him to wait upon you, miladi?"

"My uncle? Certainly. Where is he?"

"At present in his apartments, miladi."

"Tell him I will see him at once."

"I am miladi's most humble servant," was the reply with another deep bow, as he went.

"What a loathsome snake is that Master Dauban," exclaimed Lucette, looking after him.

"My uncle says he is a very honest fellow and as faithful as a man can be."

"I should need a higher character than that," said Lucette with another very expressive shrug.

"The Baron de Proballe is my uncle, Lucette," replied Gabrielle in a tone of reproach, as she rose to go into the house. And Lucette, by way of reply, turned her head away with a toss and made a grimace to herself as she bent over her wheel.