"
I began a laugh that I broke off suddenly as I realised that it was not
Yvonne after all who had imprisoned his wits. The Cardinal's plans were,
indeed, likely to miscarry if he persisted thus.
"But 't was the nose-in-the-air Madame, as you call her, with whom you
spoke!"
"Aye, but it was the golden-haired lady that held my gaze. Pshaw! Who
would mention them in a breath?"
"Who, indeed?" said I, but with a different meaning.
Thereafter, seeing him listless, I suggested a turn in the village to
stretch our limbs before dining. But he would have none of it, and when I
pressed the point with sound reasoning touching the benefits which health
may cull from exercise, he grew petulant as a wayward child. She might
descend whilst he was absent. Indeed, she might require some slight
service that lay, perchance, in his power to render her. What an
opportunity would he not lose were he abroad? She might even depart before
we returned; and than that no greater calamity could just then befall him.
No, he would not stir a foot from the inn. A fig for exercise! to the
devil with health! who sought an appetite? Not he.
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