For my own part, I am content to pray Heaven that he
come not to Lavedan, as he intended."
"Mais voyons, Gaston," the Vicomtesse protested, "why harbour
prejudice? Wait at least until you have seen him, that you may
judge him for yourself."
"Already have I judged him; I pray that I may never see him."
"They tell me he is a very handsome man," said she, appealing to me
for confirmation. Lavedan shot her a sudden glance of alarm, at
which I could have laughed. Hitherto his sole concern had been his
daughter, but it suddenly occurred to him that perhaps not even her
years might set the Vicomtesse in safety from imprudences with this
devourer of hearts, should he still chance to come that way.
"Madame," I answered, "he is accounted not ill-favored." And with
a deprecatory smile I added, "I am said somewhat to resemble him."
"Say you so?" she exclaimed, raising her eyebrows, and looking at
me more closely than hitherto. And then it seemed to me that into
her face crept a shade of disappointment. If this Bardelys were not
more beautiful than I, then he was not nearly so beautiful a man as
she had imagined. She turned to Saint-Eustache.
"It is indeed so, Chevalier?" she inquired. "Do you note the
resemblance?"
"Vanitas, vanitate," murmured the youth, who had some scraps of
Latin and a taste for airing them. "I can see no likeness - no
trace of one. Monsieur de Lesperon is well enough, I should say.
But Bardelys!" He cast his eyes to the ceiling.
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