THE WATCH-TOWER OF KOAT-VEU. 145 



thinking you poor and obscure, when I so loved you, when I love 

 you so much still, for I feel that I love thee still," she murmured, con- 

 vulsively throwing herself at his kness. *' 1 love thee still, for what 

 thou hast just related to me ought to have destroyed me on the spot, 

 but 'tis thy voice which speaks it, and I love that voice too well to die 

 by it. Believe me then, Henry, believe my love. I will swear to love 

 thee ever. I have willed thee no harm, but would sacrifice every 

 thing to thee ; do then love me, Henry." 



Her eyes were filled with tears, and she kissed his hands with 

 ardent devotion. A single tear burst through the long eyelashes of 

 Henry ; his heart heaved with compassion ; and he leant forwards to- 

 wards Rita. At this moment a stifled laugh was heard behind 

 the tapestry. Henry alone heard it; and, ashamed of his emotion, 

 he resumed his composure. 



"Arise, Madam la duchesse,'' said he ; "but tell me what is there in 

 this to cause so much despair ? We have loved for a whole month ; our 

 caprice is at an end, and I now say to you, what you have already 

 perhaps said to others, silence and adieu." 



"Believe it not, 'tis a horrible calumny," cried Rita, horrified and 

 alarmed. "Believe it not Henry ;" and she dragged herself forward on 

 her knees. 



At this moment the hangings which surrounded the apartment 

 were suddenly raised, and displayed to the stupefied duchess a large 

 company of men and women agitated by bursts of laughter and 

 crying, "Bravo, bravo, bravo, count de Vandrez; you have won your 

 bet; the plan is unique." 



The duchess having by this time raised herself, repulsed the 

 count with violence, appearing endowed at this moment with a super- 

 natural force. She sprang towards the door and disappeared before 

 any of the company could oppose themselves to her flight. 



"Wretch that I am ! she will destroy herself,'* exclaimed Henry, 

 darting forwards in pursuit of Rita. 



"Destroy herself for such a trifle ! pshaw, she knows life too well/' 

 said the duke of i?t. Owen, as he prevented Henry from escaping. 

 "Ladies assist me," he said, addressing himself to six pretty women 

 who stood around the table. "In truth I hardly knew him again ; this 

 poor count de Vandrez, what would the marshal say?" 



" The lesson is perhaps a little too severe, and then if I were truly 

 her first love," thought Henry, in one of his returns of vanity, 

 remembering the extreme tenderness of Rita. 



"Bah!" cried he, "I have too much modesty, after all, to give myself 

 the honour of a discovery;" then, recovering his usual gaiety, he added, 

 "On the other hand, they are right ; we are always the first, but, like 

 kings, the first of the baptismal name, bu* then there are so many 

 Henries that even there's a risk." Then, addressing the chevalier 

 de Lepine, he said, " Chevalier, you can tell Guernenee that I have 

 loyally won his mistress." 



"Truly, thou hast well won me," said the most charming creature 

 possible, taking Henry's arm. 



" You shall relate all that to him at table, Lelia," cried the chevalier. 

 " Now to supper." 



"Supper, supper," was responded by a din of voices. 



