"
The German would have protested, but he was pushed back by the crowd
and landed at a distance.
"That was well done!"
"I did not know that he could be so impulsive."
"He was quite right."
"The poor people of the Duchess will become landholders!"
And the crowd scattered, making many comments on the way. Albert was
soon surrounded, as everybody wanted to shake hands with him. The Duke
had stepped back behind the booth. Esperance came out with Genevieve
and Mlle. Frahender. He stopped beside her a moment.
"I love you."
"Oh, thank you."
"Forever, I hope!"
Then, as he saw that the Count was still surrounded and that Esperance
would not be able to make her way to him, he offered her his arm.
"Let me take you to Count Styvens, who cannot extricate himself!"
With the help of Jean and Maurice, he dispersed the guests and led
Esperance to her fiancee. At that moment anyone who had suspected the
Duke of intentions to flirt with the plighted girl, must have
abandoned their idea; and the motive of the duel, which was to bring
one of these two perfect gentlemen to his death, became more and more
obscure.
Count Styvens saw the girl coming to him on the Duke's arm, and he did
not suffer from the sight; his suffering for the last two days had
been too extreme to feel upset by any increase. He took Esperance to
the door of the Tower.
"You were lovelier than ever before."
He kissed her fingers devotedly.
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