 cast her chin up. »How, my dear?«
    »Your husband.«
    »What of him?«
    »He is returning.«
    »What brings him?«
    »You should ask who, my Renée! I was sure he would not hear of M.
Beauchamp's being here, without an effort to return and do the honours of the
château.«
    Renée looked hard at her, saying, »How thoughtful of you! You must have made
use of the telegraph wires to inform him that M. Beauchamp was with us.«
    »More; I made use of them to inform him that M. Beauchamp was expected.«
    »And that was enough to bring him! He pays M. Beauchamp a wonderful
compliment.«
    »Such as he would pay to no other man, my Renée. Virtually it is the highest
of compliments to you. I say that to M. Beauchamp's credit; for Raoul has met
him, and, whatever his personal feeling may be, must know your friend is a man
of honour.«
    »My friend is ... yes, I have no reason to think otherwise,« Renée replied.
Her husband's persistent and exclusive jealousy of Beauchamp was the singular
point in the character of one who appeared to have no sentiment of the kind as
regarded men that were much less than men of honour. »So, then, my sister
Agnès,« she said, »you suggested the invitation of M. Beauchamp for the purpose
of spurring my husband to return! Apparently he and I are surrounded by
plotters.«
    »Am I so very guilty?« said Madame d'Auffray.
    »If that mad boy, half idiot, half panther, were by chance to insult M.
Beauchamp, you would feel so.«
    »You have taken precautions to prevent their meeting; and besides, M.
Beauchamp does not fight.«
    Renée flushed crimson.
    Madame d'Auffray added, »I do not say that he is other than a perfectly
brave and chivalrous gentleman.«
    »Oh!« cried Renée, »do not say it, if ever you should imagine it. Bid Roland
speak of him. He is changed, oppressed: I did him a terrible wrong. ...« She
checked herself. »But the chief thing to do is to keep M. d'Henriel away from
him. I suspect M. d'Orbec of a design to make them clash: and you, my dear, will
explain why, to flatter me. Believe me, I
