He himself sat toasting
his feet before the blazing logs, which cast a warm, reddish glow upon his
sable hair and dainty shirt of cambric.
He sprang up as I entered, and came towards me with a look of pleasure on
his handsome, high-bred face, that did me good to see.
"So, you have come, De Luynes," he cried, putting forth his hand. "I did
not dare to hope that you would."
"No," I answered. "Truly it was not to be expected that I could be easily
lured from Paris just as my fortunes are nearing a high tide, and his
Eminence proposing to make me a Marshal of France and create me Duke. As
you say, you had scant grounds for hoping that my love for you would
suffice to make me renounce all these fine things for the mere sake of
accompanying you on your jaunt to Blois."
He laughed, then fell to thanking me for having rid him of Canaples. I cut
him short at last, and in answer to his questions told him what had passed
'twixt his Eminence and me that afternoon. Then as the waiter entered to
spread our supper, the conversation assumed a less delicate character,
until we were again alone with the table and its steaming viands between
us.
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