dangerous for her to challenge Angelique des Meloises to test the
fidelity of her affianced, Julien de St. Croix."

Amelie rose up in honest indignation, her cheek burning like a coal
of fire. "I know your wild talk of old, Angelique, but I will not
believe you are so wicked as to make deadly sport of our holiest
affections."

"Ah, if you knew men as I do, Amelie, you would think it no sin to
punish them for their perjuries."

"No, I don't know men," replied Amelie, "but I think a noble man is,
after God, the worthiest object of a woman's devotion. We were
better dead than finding amusement in the pain of those who love us;
pray what became of Julien de St. Croix after you broke up his
intended marriage with poor Francoise?"

"Oh! I threw him to the fishes! What did I care for him? It was
mainly to punish Francoise's presumption that I showed my power and
made him fight that desperate duel with Captain Le Franc."

"O Angelique, how could you be so unutterably wicked?"

"Wicked? It was not my fault, you know, that he was killed. He was
my champion, and ought to have come off victor. I wore a black
ribbon for him a full half-year, and had the credit of being devoted
to his memory; I had my triumph in that if in nothing else."

"Your triumph! for shame, Angelique! I will not listen to you: you
profane the very name of love by uttering such sentiments. The gift