"And of more difficulty. The Madame often dabbles herself in these dealings involving money, and she is harder to deceive. However she is not accurate at figures, clever though she be otherwise. Look over this; this calculation. See, there is a simple transposition of an item, which results in a difference of near ten thousand livres. It appears there to have been made by the money lender for his greater gain. You can study this copy before the Duke comes. Then you will be quite prepared to point out this error and make the correction. Here is his copy which he will sign." "Ah, good," she said looking over the memorandum he had given her of the amounts, with the correct calculations all neatly carried out. "Well, that is enough for this morning; you may go; these things weary me." "Celeste, Celeste, how long is this to continue? will you never--" "_Madame_," she corrected positively, rumpling and smoothing out again the paper in her lap. "As you will," with an air of hopeless protest. "Do you mean always to send me away when our business is completed--?" "Was it not our agreement?" "Yes, but I thought--" "You had no right to think." "A man must needs think whether he will or no, what is of life itself. Are you a woman of ice? Do you not realize I sell all I hold most dear, the confidence born of a life-time's honest service to my King, my own honor, only to serve you, to be with you?" "I am weary. It is time for you to go." "Yes, but is there nothing else? You agreed--" "Oh, I know, why remind me?" She turned upon him fiercely. "Do you wish to make me hate you? Now you are only an object of indifference, objectionable to me as are all men who make love, and sigh, and worry me. Do you wish me to hate and despise you more than the rest?" "God forbid! But--" "You still insist?" "Yes, I must have my thirty pieces of silver, the price of my treachery," de Valence returned bitterly; "men die in the Bastille for lesser offenses than mine." "That is your affair," the woman replied, without a shade of concern. I thought I could perceive a growing embarrassment in her manner as de Valence came closer to her, remembering, for so she must, that we could hear every word through the portiere. She collected herself bravely; de Valence must not suspect. "Come, I'll pay you," and she put her lips upward so coolly I wondered he should care to touch them. Jerome raged silently, for I confess we were both guilty of looking as well as listening. De Valence leaned over her, but lifted his head again. "Celeste--Madame, so cold. I'd as lief kiss the marble lips of Diana in the park." "Oh, as you please; you may kiss them, too, if you like," she shrugged her shoulders, and was not pretty for the instant. "I pay as I promise; it is a mere barter of commodities. You may take or leave it as you choose."