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… Page 38…
Monsieur Beaucaire
strong man two day' to say all of them。 I can suppose this Winterset know'
now who bring the charge！〃
〃Castle Nowhere！〃 gasped Beau Nash； falling back upon the burly
prop of Mr。 Bantison's shoulder。
〃The Duke of Orleans will receive a message from me within the
hour！〃 said Winterset； as he made his way to the door。 His face was
black with rage and shame。
〃I tol' you that I would not soil my hand with you；〃 answered the
young man。 〃If you send a message no gentleman will bring it。 Whoever
shall bear it will receive a little beating from Francois。〃
He stepped to Lady Mary's side。 Her head was bent low； her face
averted。 She seemed to breathe with difficulty； and leaned heavily upon
a chair。 〃Monseigneur；〃 she faltered in a half whisper； 〃can you … forgive
me？ It is a bitter … mistake…I have made。 Forgive。〃
〃Forgive？〃 he answered； and his voice was as broken as hers； but he
went on； more firmly： 〃It is … nothing … less than nothing。 There is … only
jus' one … in the … whole worl' who would not have treat' me the way that
you treat' me。 It is to her that I am goin' to make reparation。 You know
something； Henri？ I am not goin' back only because the king forgive' me。
I am goin' to please him； I am goin' to espouse mademoiselle； our cousin。
My frien's； I ask your felicitations。〃
〃And the king does not compel him！〃 exclaimed young Henri。
〃Henri； you want to fight me？〃 cried his brother sharply。 〃Don' you
think the King of France is a wiser man than me？〃
He offered his hand to Lady Mary。 〃Mademoiselle is fatigue'。 Will
she honor me？〃
He walked with her to the door。 Her hand fluttering faintly in his。
》From somewhere about the garments of one of them a little cloud of
faded rose…leaves fell； and lay strewn on the floor behind them。 He opened
the door； and the lights shone on a multitude of eager faces turned toward
it。 There was a great hum of voices； and； over all； the fiddles wove a
wandering air； a sweet French song of the voyageur。
He bowed very low； as； with fixed and glistening eyes； Lady Mary
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… Page 39…
Monsieur Beaucaire
Carlisle； the Beauty of Bath； passed slowly by him and went out of the
room。
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