"Thanks be to God, you love me then, after all," he murmured. "Did you then doubt it?" she whispered. "Louise, there have been doubts and mysteries; tell me, you are acquainted with one Michel Prevost?" Louise flushed. "I know Michel very, very, very well," she replied, smiling. "Come, explain--there is a mystery, but I think I have a clue! Confess, you have a brother or a near relation--now that I see you, I am impressed the more with the likeness between you and this good fellow! If I am wrong, then who--in Heaven's name--is this Prevost whom you know so well and who reminds me so strongly of you?" "Not a brother--a relative, yes; he loves me, Henri--nay, do not speak--he loves you also, _mon ami_; he would not have us parted," Louise laughed hysterically. "Do not fear, he shall never be dearer to me than now, and that is not so dear as you, not by--oh, oh! so many miles!" "I see--I see! Good; I am content. They told me you were dead, my beloved--imagine my despair. Why was I deceived?" "My father will have no son-in-law but this Michel." "_Peste!_ So I must be deceived and sent into the fires of the nether regions!" "My Henri, be calm and listen. My father sent me to you with a suggestion; you are to fight for me with this Michel----" Henri interrupted with a roar of laughter. "Oh, oh! poor Michel! he is doomed! I shall fight like a fiend from hell, if it is for you, _ma mie_; moreover, he is--you say--on our side! What a foolish fight will this be!" "Michel is a good fencer, he has few equals. What if he should slay you, my beloved, for--if I remember rightly--you have not more than a passable hand with the rapier." "Bah! in such a cause I would overthrow even Louise herself," Henri laughed; "but will Michel fight?" "It--it shall be arranged; he shall slip and you shall disarm him--neither shall be hurt." Louise blushed and became agitated. "Go down, _chérie_, to the _salon d'armes_, you know it of old, and there Michel shall meet you. Adieu, until--until Michel is overthrown." Henri laughed and embraced the girl. "Adieu, then," he said, "until then--bid Michel be quick!" The _salon d'armes_ was empty when Henri entered it. He busied himself in examining and testing the rapiers upon the walls. A sound presently attracted his attention and he looked round. Louise stood in the arena, rapier in hand; she wore her fencing dress; her face was crimson with blushes; she seemed too agitated to speak. "What is this, _chérie_, where is Michel Prevost?" asked Henri. Louise replied, murmuring so softly that he could scarcely catch her words. "Michel is here," she whispered. "Oh, my beloved, are you so blind? Michel is here, but his uniform he will never wear again; oh, Henri be kind to me for the love of Heaven, for I am ashamed." CHAPTER XXXI.