Part 12 (1/2)

”But--the soldiers--”

”If you do not open quietly they will force the door open within the next two minutes,” interposed Jeanne calru, and tell the soldiers at once that they will find mademoiselle in the boudoir Go, for God's sake!” she added, whilst suppressed eo, before they break open that door!”

Madame Belhomme, impressed and cowed, obeyed like an autoht out of the room It was not a minute too soon From outside had already come the third and final summons:

”Open, in the name of the people!”

After that a croould break open the door

Mada the ante-cha her tre little hand in his

”A love-scene,” she whispered rapidly, ”a love-scene--quick--do you know one?”

And even as he had tried to rise she held hiht that fear washer distracted

”Made to soothe her

”Try and understand,” she said onderful calm, ”and do as I tell you Aunt Marie has obeyed Will you do likewise?”

”To the death!” he whispered eagerly

”Then a love-scene,” she entreated ”Surely you know one Rodrigue and Chiuish rose into her eyes, ”youelse Quick!

The very seconds are precious!”

They were indeed! Madaone to the door and opened it; even her well-feigned gruations froruff voice

”In her boudoir, quoi!”

Mada her part re day, too!” she went on gru

”Oh, think--think!” onised whisper, her hot little hand grasping his so tightly that her nails were driven into his flesh ”You --for dear life's sake Armand!”

His name--in the tense excitement of this terrible moment--had escaped her lips

All in a flash of sudden intuition he understood what she wanted, and even as the door of the boudoir was thrown violently open Armand--still on his knees, but with one hand pressed to his heart, the other stretched upwards to the ceiling in the :

”Pour venger son honneur il perdit son aer sa maitresse il a quitte le jour!”

Whereupon Madened the ood cousin,” she said with a pretty moue of disdain, ”that will never do! You must not thus emphasise the end of every line; the verses should flow more evenly, as thus”