XI
FEMALEDIPLOMACY
CalysteranwiththelightnessofayoungfawntoLesTouchesandreachedtheporticojustasCamilleandBeatrixwereleavingthegrandsalonaftertheirdinner。HehadthesensetoofferhisarmtoFelicite。”Soyouhaveabandonedyourviscountessandherdaughterforus，”shesaid，pressinghisarm；”weareablenowtounderstandthefullmeritofthatsacrifice。””AretheseKergarouetsrelatedtothePortendueres，andtooldAdmiraldeKergarouet，whosewidowmarriedCharlesdeVandenesse？”askedMadamedeRochefide。”Theviscountessistheadmiral’sgreat-niece，”repliedCamille。”Well，she’sacharminggirl，”saidBeatrix，placingherselfgracefullyinaGothicchair。”Shewilljustdoforyou，MonsieurduGuenic。””Themarriagewillnevertakeplace，”saidCamillehastily。
Mortifiedbythecold，calmairwithwhichthemarquiseseemedtoconsidertheBretongirlastheonlycreaturefittomatehim，Calysteremainedspeechlessandevenmindless。”Whyso，Camille？”askedMadamedeRochefide。”Really，mydear，”saidCamille，seeingCalyste’sdespair，”youarenotgenerous；didIadviseContitomarry？”
Beatrixlookedatherfriendwithasurprisethatwasmingledwithindefinablesuspicions。