"Mademoiselle; I am a poor man now," I ended. "I am no longer that
magnificent gentleman whose wealth and splendour were a byword. Yet
am I no needy adventurer. I have a little property at Beaugency -
a very spot for happiness, mademoiselle. Paris shall know me no
more. At Beaugency I shall live at peace, in seclusion, and, so
that you come with me, in such joy as in all my life I have done
nothing to deserve. I have no longer an army of retainers. A couple
of men and a maid or two shall constitute our household. Yet I shall
account my wealth well lost if for love's sake you'll share with me
the peace of my obscurity. I am poor, mademoiselle yet no poorer
even now than that Gascon gentleman, Rene de Lesperon, for whom you
held me, and on whom you bestowed the priceless treasure of your
heart."
"Oh, might it have pleased God that you had remained that poor
Gascon gentleman!" she cried.
"In what am I different, Roxalanne?"
"In that he had laid no wager," she answered, rising suddenly.
My hopes were withering. She was not angry. She was pale, and her
gentle face was troubled - dear God! how sorely troubled! To me
it almost seemed that I had lost.
She flashed me a glance of her blue eyes, and I thought that tears
impended.
"Roxalanne!" I supplicated.
But she recovered the control that for a moment she had appeared
upon the verge of losing. She put forth her hand.
"Adieu, monsieur!" said she.
I glanced from her hand to her face.
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