"One moment! one moment!" cried the duke; "deuce take me! but you're losing your head now, my dear Nanon. What about the menu, pray? I am like you; I am half famished. Here, Master Biscarros, put these six louis with the others: they are to pay for the diverting tale you have been telling us." Thereupon he bade the historian give place to the cook, and we hasten to say that Master Biscarros shone no less brilliantly in the second rôle than the first. Meanwhile Nanon had reflected and realized at a glance the situation in which she was placed if Master Biscarros' supposition were well-founded. In the first place, was it well-founded? and, after all, even if it were, was not Canolles excusable? For what a cruel thing for a gallant fellow like him was this broken appointment! How insulting the espionage of the Duc d'Épernon, and the necessity imposed upon him, Canolles, of looking on, so to speak, at his rival's triumph! Nanon was so deeply in love herself that, attributing this prank to a paroxysm of jealousy, she not only forgave Canolles, but pitied him, and congratulated herself, perhaps, on being loved so well as to have incited him to take this petty revenge upon her. But the evil must be cut off at its root, and the progress of this incipient passion must be checked at all hazards. At that point, a terrifying thought passed through Nanon's mind, and well-nigh struck her dumb. Suppose that this meeting between Canolles and the little gentleman was by appointment. But no; she was mad to think of it, for the little fellow awaited the arrival of a man with moustaches, and was rude to Canolles; perhaps Canolles did not himself detect the stranger's sex until he happened upon the little glove. No matter! Canolles must be thwarted. Summoning all her energy, she returned to the duke, who had just dismissed Biscarros, laden with compliments and instructions. "What a misfortune, monsieur," said she, "that that madcap's folly deprives him of an honor like that you were about to bestow upon him! If he had been here, his future was assured; his absence may ruin everything." "But," said the duke, "if we find him--" "No danger of that," rejoined Nanon; "if there's a woman in the case, he will not have returned." "What would you have me do, my love? Youth is the age of pleasure; he is young, and is amusing himself." "But," said Nanon, "I am more sensible than he, and it's my opinion that we should interfere a little with his unseasonable amusement." "Ah! scolding sister!" cried the duke. "He will take it ill of me at the moment, perhaps; but he will unquestionably thank me for it later." "Very well; have you a plan? I ask nothing better than to adopt it if you have." "I have one." "Tell it me." "Do you not wish to send him to the queen with urgent intelligence?" "To be sure; but if he has not returned--" "Send a messenger after him; and as he is on the road to Paris, it will be so much time gained." "_Pardieu!_ you are right."