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216 now his turn to score—because it was plain that Madame de Fonblanque was anything but enraptured at the notion of marrying him.

She caught sight of Mr. Romaine's black eyes dancing in enjoyment of her predicament. She rose and drew her fur cloak around her.

"I will think it over, Mr. Romaine," she said, calmly.

"Pray do," responded Mr. Romaine; "and I will write you a letter to-morrow morning, making a specific offer to fulfil my promise, which will make those cherished letters of yours worth considerably less than the paper they are written on—and what a honeymoon we will have!"

At this, Madame de Fonblanque positively shuddered, but she held her head up bravely as Mr. Romaine opened the door politely for her, and they discovered Colonel Corbin stalking up and down the hall alone.

"Corbin," said Mr. Romaine, blandly, "Madame de Fonblanque and I have reached a perfectly satisfactory agreement."

"Sir," replied the Colonel, glowering with wrath, "it must also be made satisfactory to me. When I bring a lady to a house, she is under my protection; and when she has the