"They were sent me as a gift, madame," she observed, haughtily, and withholding the flowers. "I value them because ours are not yet blown at the Hôtel Montmirail."
"Pardon, madame!" retorted the other, unable, now that she knew her, to forego this opening for a thrust. "Tropical, of course! From an admirer, madame? or perhaps a kinsman? Very dark, no doubt, and with close curled hair. I offer you my compliments from the bottom of my heart!"
No quarter now. She had rushed upon her fate, and must be shot down without the least compunction. "If madame will deign to accept my bouquet," said the Marquise, "she will do me the highest honour." And she displayed the whole of it, a wonder of nature, brought to perfection by art.
Madame de Parabére, giddy, thoughtless, fond of flowers, stretched her hand out eagerly, and Captain George, whose attention the Regent's conversation had diverted from this passage of arms between the ladies, turned round while she was in the act of putting them enthusiastically to her face.
He saw the situation at a glance, and his promptitude served him as usual.
"I must be ready for your Highness!" he exclaimed hurriedly, addressing the Regent, but with his eye fixed on the treacherous flowers. "Madame, I have the honour of wishing you a good-night!" he added in the same breath; while with an energetic flourish of his cocked hat he knocked them clean out of the lady's hands to a few paces' distance on the floor, letting the hat follow; and as he recovered the latter, crushing the bouquet to pieces, as if inadvertently, beneath his foot. It was the second time he had practised this manœuvre within twelve hours, and he was perfect in his lesson.
Rising with an affectation of great confusion, he made his excuses to Madame de Parabére, contriving, amongst a torrent of phrases, to convey, unobserved, the single word "Beware!" And she understood him, contenting herself with a glance of intense gratitude, and an inward vow she would never rest till she had found opportunity to repay both friend and foe.
