The Governor's daughter got up quickly. "I am very tired, Marie, and wish now to be alone! You need not remain--I shall not want you again to-night." The old nurse murmured a dejected response; turned away. "I thank your Ladyship!" The girl's last look was one of indubitable satisfaction ere she followed her aunt from the room. My lady stared after them. "'Daughter of Pierre Laroche! Friend of the Black Seigneur!'" Marie's words continued to ring in her ears. She threw herself into a chair; sat long very still, her eyes bent straight before her, on either cheek now a bright spot of color. CHAPTER XXVII A STROLL ON THE STRAND "You are in a hurry, Monsieur Beppo?" arms akimbo, Nanette, standing in an embrasure of the rampart, called out to the Governor's man as he passed by. "Ah, Mistress Nanette," Beppo stopped readily enough, "I didn't see you at first." "Because you have more important matters to think of," she laughed, showing her strong white teeth. The fat old man looked pleased; a few days before, Nanette had flashed a radiant smile at him from her casement, and, ever since, he had been inclined to regard her with favor. "Not more important, but duties that must be attended to! The wedding hour draws near." The island girl half turned her head; a shadow seemed to pass over the bold, sunburned features. "And her ladyship gives to-morrow a riding party for her guests--a last celebration before she is led to the altar. I am on my way now to arrange about the escort." "A riding party!" Nanette spoke quickly. "You mean on horseback?" "How else?" said Beppo. "It is a pastime her ladyship has always been very fond of, even as a child. In those days," not without an accent of self-importance, "it was my privilege--" "Do they ride far?" interrupted Nanette with ill-suppressed eagerness. "To the old Monastery St. Ranulphe; an imposing ruin of tenth century architecture, my dear," he added pompously. "And where is it?" "Off the Paris highway, some ten miles from the Mount." "Ten miles? And the country is beautiful? Not open; sandy, like the shore?" "It partakes of a rugged grandeur." "With forests around?" quickly. "Yes," indulgently. "You like forests, Mistress Nanette?" "When they are thick and wild--" "Then would you like these!" The girl asked no further questions; yet still Beppo lingered, his glance seeming loath to withdraw from this exuberant specimen of vigorous young womanhood. "Which way were you going, good Mistress Nanette?" he asked finally. "On second thoughts, I have a little time to spare and will walk along." Nanette, looking down from the rampart toward the sands and the shore, did not answer, and, more insinuatingly, Beppo repeated his proposal. Nanette started.