Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 208: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE QUEEN’S BODY GUARD. 201 intense look in her eyes, as though she were reading his very soul. Then she sighed softly to herself, as though relieved of a doubt. | “ And now, monsieur,” she said with a touch of coquetry in her manner, “I suppose you would like to know who I am.” Just the faint suspicion of a smile played about her lips. “I am M.A. de Villiers, your employer! ” “ You—you Monsieur de Villiers?’ gasped Cottrell. “No!” replied the girl, smiling, “ not monsicur, but mademoiselle la com- tesse. There is no Monsieur de Villiers! ” “ But I thought that “That your employer would prove to be a man?” broke in the countess. “ Quite natural under the circumstances; and I am afraid I must answer for the apparent Coneptaon. But when [ have explained matters, I trust you will not blame me.’ “Hush!” whispered Daron suddenly. He had been standing sentinel by an open window, and now he stood with one hand raised, to command silence, and the other close to his ear. There was a faint crunching sound in the distance, that grew louder and nearer as the trio stood listening. “Who is it, think you, Jean?” whispered the countess. “ Sacre, it’s your butler, Louis ; I know his step—the fox—and he’s coming to interview me, I could swear! ” Marie de Villiers seized Cottrell by the hand and forced him gently back into a curtained recess of the room, where they were completely hidden from view. At the same time Daron deftly and slowly lowered the one oil lamp till the whole room was in shadow, and then noiselessly he slid back the bolt of the front door and threw it wide open. Placing a chair against it, he com- fortably seated himself, pipe in hand, his head thrown back like one who had come out to enjoy the balmy night air and had fallen asleep. The bulky form of a man stopped before the cottage, and coming suddenly on the apparently sleeping Jean, he shook him roughly by the arm. ‘Wake up, you old sleepy head!” cried the man. “ Wake up, do you hear?” As though still half asleep Jean sat up and yawned mightily. “Well, well, Master Louis, what brings you here at this time of night? ” he inquired. “ Is it not time that you should be serving dinner for the count- ess?” “The countess has already retired with a bad headache,” returned the man, “ and said she wished for no dinner. But I did not come here to tell you that!” he added insolently. “ What I want to know is where have you been all the afternoon, when you ought to have been mending the walk that leads down to the water? ” Jean’s little round eyes twinkled wickedly but lustily ; it was too dark for the other to see his face. . “T don’t know as that is any business of yours,” he replied blandly. “ But I have no objection to telling you. I have been towards Turonne for a load of potatoes and some sacks of meal! ”’ “Are you sure you weren’t on some secret errand for her ladyship? ” in- GONG OOO UN ceo