The Grey Cloak - Page 152/256

"Well, Gabrielle," said Anne, curiously, "what do you propose to do?"

Madame went to the window; madame stared far below the balcony at the

broad river which lay smooth and white in the morning sunshine; madame

drummed on the window-casing.

"It is a mare's nest," she replied, finally.

"First of all, there is D'Hérouville. True, he is in the hospital,"

observed Anne, "but he will shortly become an element."

Madame shrugged.

"There's the vicomte, for another."

Madame spread the most charming pair of hands.

"And the poet," Anne continued.

Madame tucked away a rebel curl above her ear.

"And last, but not least, there's the Chevalier du Cévennes. The

governor was very kind to permit you to remain incognito."

Madame's face became animated. "What an embarrassing thing it is to be

so plentifully and frequently loved!"

"If only you loved some one of these noble gentlemen!"

"D'Hérouville, a swashbuckler; D'Halluys, a gamester; Du Cévennes, a

fop. Truly, you can not wish me so unfortunate as that?"

"Besides, Monsieur du Cévennes does not know nor love you."

"I suppose not. How droll it would be if I should set about making him

fall in love with me!--to bring him to my feet and tell him who I

am--and laugh!"

"I should advise you not to try it, Gabrielle. He might become

formidable. Are you not mischief endowed with a woman's form?"

"A mare's nest it is, truly; but since I have entered it

willingly . . ."

"Well?"

"I shall not return to France on the Henri IV," determinedly.

"But Du Cévennes and the others?"

"I shall avoid Monsieur du Cévennes; I shall laugh in D'Hérouville's

face; the vicomte will find me as cold and repelling as that iceberg

which we passed near Acadia."

"And Monsieur de Saumaise?" Anne persisted.

"Well, if he wishes it, he may play Strephon to my Phyllis, only the

idyl must go no further than verses. No, Anne; his is a brave, good

heart, and I shall not play with it. I am too honest."

"Well, at any rate, you will not become dull while I am on probation.

And you will also become affiliated with the Ursulines?"

Madame smiled with gentle irony. "Oh, yes, indeed! And I shall teach

Indian children to speak French as elegantly as Brantôme wrote it, and

knit nurses' caps for the good squaws. . . . Faith, Anne, dear, if I

did not love you, the Henri IV could not carry me back to France quick

enough." Madame leaned from the window and sniffed the forest perfumes.

"You will be here six months, then."

"That will give certain personages in France time to forget."

"You were very uncivil to Monsieur le Marquis on board."