ue；　the　hero　（as　she　placed　him）　of　an　unknown　romance；　　the　dweller　upon　unknown　memories。　　She　recalled　him　sitting　　there　alone；　so　immersed；　so　stupefied；　yet　she　was　sure　he　　was　not　stupid。　　She　recalled　one　day　when　he　had　remained　a　　long　time　motionless；　with　parted　lips；　like　one　in　the　act　　of　starting　up；　his　eyes　fixed　on　vacancy。　　Any　one　else　must　　have　looked　foolish；　but　not　he。　　She　tried　to　conceive　what　　manner　of　memory　had　thus　entranced　him；　she　forged　for　him　a　　past；　she　showed　him　to　herself　in　every　light　of　heroism　and　　greatness　and　misfortune；　she　brooded　with　petulant　intensity　　on　all　she　knew　and　guessed　of　him。　　Yet；　though　she　was　　already　gone　so　deep；　she　was　still　unashamed；　still　　unalarmed；　her　thoughts　were　still　disinterested；　she　had　　still　to　reach　the　stage　at　which　…　beside　the　image　of　that　　other　whom　we　love　to　contemplate　and　to　adorn　…　we　place　the　　image　of　ourself　and　behold　them　together　with　delight。
  She　stood　within　the　counter；　her　hands　clasped　behind　her　　back；　her　shoulders　pressed　against　the　wall；　her　feet　braced　　out。　　Her　face　was　bright　with　the　wind　and　her　own　thoughts；　　as　a　fire　in　a　similar　day　of　tempest　glows　and　brightens　on　　a　hearth；　so　she　seemed　to　glow；　standing　there；　and　to　　breathe　out　energy。　　It　was　the　first　time　Ballantrae　had　　visited　that　wine…seller's；　the　first　time　he　had　seen　the　　wife；　and　his　eyes　were　true　to　her。
  'I　perceive　your　reason　for　carrying　me　to　this　very　draughty　　tavern；'　he　said　at　last。
  'I　believe　it　is　propinquity；'　returned　Balmile。
  'You　play　dark；'　said　Ballantrae；　'but　have　a　care！　　Be　more　　frank　with　me；　or　I　will　cut　you　out。　　I　go　through　no　form　　of　qualifying　my　threat；　which　would　be　commonplace　and　not　　conscientious。　　There　is　only　one　point　in　these　campaigns：　　that　is　the　degree　of　admiration　offered　by　the　man；　and　to　　our　hostess　I　am　in　a　posture　to　make　victorious　love。'
  'If　you　think　you　have　the　time；　or　the　game　worth　the　　candle；'　replied　the　other　with　a　shrug。
  'One　would　suppose　you　were　never　at　the　pains　to　observe　　her；'　said　Ballantrae。
  'I　am　not　very　observant；'　said　Balmile。　　'She　seems　comely。'
  'You　very　dear　and　dull　dog！'　cried　Ballantrae；　'chastity　is　　the　most　besotting　of　the　virtues。　　Why；　she　has　a　look　in　　her　face　beyond　singing！　　I　believe；　if　you　was　to　push　me　　hard；　I　might　trace　it　home　to　a　trifle　of　a　squint。　　What　　matters？　　The　height　of　beauty　is　in　the　touch　that's　wrong；　　that's　the　modulation　in　a　tune。　　'Tis　the　devil　we　all　love；　　I　owe　many　a　conquest　to　my　mole'　…　he　touched　it　as　he　spoke　　with　a　smile；　and　his　eyes　glittered；　…　'we　are　all　　hunchbacks；　and　beauty　is　only　that　kind　of　deformity　that　I　　happen　to　admire。　　But　come！　　Because　you　are　chaste；　for　　which　I　am　sure　I　pay　you　my　respects；　that　is　no　reason　why　　you　should　be　blind。　　Look　at　her；　look　at　the　delicious　nose　　of　her；　look　at　her　cheek；　look　at　her　ear；　look　at　her　hand　　and　wrist　…　look　at　the　whole　baggage　from　heels　to　crown；　　and　tell　me　if　she　wouldn't　melt　on　a　man's　tongue。'
  As　Ballantrae　spoke；　half　jesting；　half　enthusiastic；　Balmile　　was　constrained　to　do　as　he　was　bidden。　　He　looked　at　the　　woman；　admired　her　excellences；　and　was　at　the　same　time　　ashamed　for　himself　and　his　companion。　　So　it　befell　that　　when　Marie…Madeleine　raised　her　eyes；　she　met　those　of　the　　subject　of　her　contemplations　fixed　directly　on　herself　with　　a　look　that　is　unmistakable；　the　look　of　a　person　measuring　　and　valuing　another　…　and；　to　clench　the　false　impression；　　that　his　glance　was　instantly　and　guiltily　withdrawn。　　The　　blood　beat　back　upon　her　heart　and　leaped　again；　her　obscure　　thoughts　flashed　clear　before　her；　she　flew　in　fancy　straight　　to　his　arms　like　a　wanton；　and　fled　again　on　the　instant　like　　a　nymph。　　And　at　that　moment　there　chanced　an　interruption；　　which　not　only　spared　her　embarrassment；　but　set　the　last　　consecration　on　her　now　articulate　love。
  Into　the　wine…shop　there　came　a　French　gentleman；　arrayed　in　　the　last　refinement　of　the　fashion；　though　a　little　tumbled　　by　his　passage　in　the　wind。　　It　was　to　be　judged　he　had　come　　from　the　same　formal　gathering　at　which　the　others　had　　preceded　him；　and　perhaps　that　he　had　gone　there　in　the　hope　　to　meet　with　them；　for　he　came　up　to　Ballantrae　with　　unceremonious　eagerness。
  'At　last；　here　you　are！'　he　cried　in　French。　　'I　thought　I　　was　to　miss　you　altogether。'
  The　Scotsmen　rose；　and　Ballantrae；　after　the　first　greetings；　　laid　his　hand　on　his　companion's　shoulder。
  'My　lord；'　said　he；　'allow　me　to　present　to　you　one　of　my　　best　friends　and　one　of　our　best　soldiers；　the　Lord　Viscount　　Gladsmuir。'
  The　two　bowed　with　the　elaborate　elegance　of　the　period。
  'MONSEIGNEUR；'　said　Balmile；　'JE　N'AI　PAS　LA　PRETENTION　DE　　M'AFFUBLER　D'UN　TITRE　QUE　LA　MAUVAISE　FORTUNE　DE　MON　ROI　NE　　ME　PERMET　PAS　DE　PORTER　COMMA　IL　SIED。　　JE　M'APPELLE；　POUR　　VOUS　SERVIR；　BLAIR　DE　BALMILE　TOUT　COURT。'　　＇My　lord；　I　have　　not　the　effrontery　to　cumber　myself　with　a　title　which　the　　ill　fortunes　of　my　king　will　not　suffer　me　to　bear　the　way　it　　should　be。　　I　call　myself；　at　your　service；　plain　Blair　of　　Balmile。＇
  'MONSIEUR　LE　VICOMTE　OU　MONSIEUR　BLER'　DE　BALMAIL；'　replied　　the　newcomer；　'LE　NOM　N'Y　FAIT　RIEN；　ET　L'ON　CONNAIT　VOS　　BEAUX　FAITS。'　　＇The　name　matters　nothing；　your　gallant　　actions　are　known。＇
  A　few　more　ceremonies；　and　these　three；　sitting　down　together　　to　the　table；　called　for　wine。　　It　was　the　happiness　of　　Marie…Madeleine　to　wait　unobserved　upon　the　prince　of　her　　desires。　　She　poured　the　wine；　he　drank　of　it；　and　that　link　　between　them　seemed　to　her；　for　the　moment；　close　as　a　　caress。　　Though　they　lowered　their　tones；　she　surprised　great　　names　passing　in　their　conversation；　names　of　kings；　the　　names　of　de　Gesvre　and　Belle…Isle；　and　the　man　who　dealt　in　　these　high　matters；　and　she　who　was　now　coupled　with　him　in　　her　own　thoughts；　seemed　to　swim　in　mid　air　in　a　　transfiguration。　　Love　is　a　crude　core；　but　it　has　singular　　and　far…reaching　fringes；　in　that　passionate　attraction　for　　the　stranger　that　now　swayed　and　mastered　her；　his　harsh　　incomprehensible　language；　and　these　names　of　grandees　in　his　　talk；　were　each　an　element。
  The　Frenchman　stayed　not　long；　but　it　was　plain　he　left　　behind　him　matter　of　much　interest　to　his　companions；　they　　spoke　together　earnestly；　their　heads　down；　the　woman　of　the　　wine…shop　totally　forgotten；　and　they　were　still　so　occupied　　when　Paradou　returned。
  This　man's　love　was　unsleeping。　　The　even　bluster　of　the　　mistral；　with　which　he　had　been　combating　some　hours；　had　not　　suspended；　though　it　had　embittered；　that　predominant　　passion。　　His　first　look　was　for　his　wife；　a　look　of　hope　and　　suspicion；　menace　and　humility　and　love；　that　made　the　over…　blooming　brute　appear　for　the　moment　almost　beautiful。　　She　　returned　his　glance；　at　first　as　though　she　knew　him　not；　　then　with　a　swiftly　waxing　coldness　of　intent；　and　at　last；　　without　changing　their　direction；　she　had　closed　her　eyes。
  There　passed　across　her　mind　during　that　period　much　that　　Paradou　could　not　have　understood　had　it　been　told　to　him　in　　words：　chiefly　the　sense　of　an　enlightening　contrast　betwixt　　the　man　who　talked　of　kings　and　the　man　who　kept　a　wine…shop；　　betwixt　the　love　she　yearned　for　and　that　to　which　she　had　　been　long　exposed　like　a　victim　bound　upon　the　altar。　　There　　swelled　upon　her；　swifter　than　the　Rhone；　a　tide　of　　abhorrence　and　disgust。　　She　had　succumbed　to　the　monster；　　humbling　herself　below　animals；　and　now　she　loved　a　hero；　　aspiring　to　the　semi…divine。　　It　was　in　the　pang　of　that　　humiliating　thought　that　she　had　closed　her　eyes。
  Paradou　…　quick　as　beasts　are　quick；　to　translate　silence　…　　felt　the　insult　through　his　blood；　his　inarticulate　soul　　bellowed　within　him　for　revenge。　　He　glanced　about　the　shop。　　　He　saw　the　two　indifferent　gentlemen　deep　in　talk；　and　passed　　them　over：　his　fancy　flying　not　so　high。　　There　was　but　one　　other　present；　a　country　lout　who　stood　swallowing　his　wine；　　equally　unobserved　by　all　and　unobserving　…　to　him　he　dealt　a　　glance　of　murderous　suspicion；　and　turned　direct　upon　his　　wife。　　The　wine…shop　had　lain　hitherto；　a　space　of　shelter；　　the　scene　of　a　few　ceremonial　passages　and　some　whispered　　conversation；　in　the　howling　river　of　the　wind；　the　clock　had　　not　yet　ticked　a　score　of　times　since　Paradou's　appearance；　　and　now；　as　he　suddenly　gave　tongue；　it　seemed　as　though　the　　mistral　had　entered　at　his　heels。
  'What　ails　you；　woman？'　he　cried；　smiting　on　the　counter。
  'Nothing　ails　me；'　she　replied。　　It　was　strange；　but　she　　spoke　and　stood　at　that　moment　like　a　lady　of　degree；　drawn　　upward　by　her　aspirations。
  'You　speak　to　me；　by　God；　as　though　you　scorned　me！'　cried　　the　husband。
  The　man's　passion　was　always　formidable；　she　had　often　looked　　on　upon　its　violence　with　a　thrill；　it　had　been　one　　ingredient　in　her　fascination；　and　she　was　now　surprised　to　　behold　him；　as　from　afar　off；　gesticulating　but　impotent。　　　His　fury　might　be　dangerous　like　a　torrent　or　a　gust　of　wind；　　but　it　was　inhuman；　it　might　be　feared　or　braved；　it　should　　never　be　respected。　　And　with　that　there　came　in　her　a　sudden　　glow　of　courage　and　that　readines