Page:Hope-indiscretions of duchess.djvu/70

58 “To come for me?” she said, with the first touch of coquetry which I had seen in her lighting up her eyes.

“Even for that, it is possible,” I rejoined.

We began to walk together toward the edge of the open place in front of the church. The convent came in sight as we reached the fall of the hill.

“How peaceful that looks!” she said; “I wonder if it would be pleasant there!”

I was myself just wondering how the Duchess of Saint-Maclou found it, when a loud cry of warning startled us. We had been standing on the edge of the road, and a horse, going at a quick trot, was within five yards of us. As it reached us, it was sharply reined in. To my amazement, old Jean, the duchess’ servant, sat upon it. When he saw me, a smile spread over his weather-beaten face.

“I was nearly over you,” said he. “You had no ears.”

And I am sorry to say that Jean winked, insinuating that Marie Delhasse and I had been preoccupied.

The diplomacy of non-recognition had failed to strike Jean. I made the best of a bad job, and asked:

“What brings you here?”

Marie stood a few paces off, regarding us.

“I’m looking for Mme. la Duchesse,” grinned Jean.

Marie Delhasse took a step forward when she heard his reference to the duchess.

“Her absence was discovered by Suzanne at