said, 'But
these are for the season of spring, and before that time Monsieur de
Tiernay will be far away.'

'Who can tell that?' said I. 'I would seem to be forgotten by my
comrades.'

'Then you must take care to do that which may refresh their memory,'
said she pointedly; and before I could question her more closely as to
her meaning, the general had risen to take his leave.

'Madame la Marquise was somewhat more tart than usual,' said he to me,
as we ascended the cliff; 'but you have passed the ordeal now, and the
chances are, she will never offend you in the same way again. Great
allowances must be made for those who have suffered as she has.
Family--fortune--station--even country--all lost to her; and even hope
now dashed by many a disappointment.'

Though puzzled by the last few words, I made no remark on them, and he
resumed--

'She has invited you to come and see her as often as you are at liberty;
and, for my part, you shall not be restricted in that way. Go and come
as you please, only do not infringe the hours of the fortress; and if
you can concede a little now and then to the prejudices of the old lady,
your intercourse will be all the more agreeable to both parties.'

'I believe, general, that I have little of the Jacobin to recant,' said
I, laughing.

'I should go further, my dear friend, and say, none,' added he. 'Your
uniform is the only tint of "blue" about you.' And thus chatting, we
reached the fortress, and said good-night.

I have been particular, perhaps tiresomely so, in retelling these broken
phrases and snatches of conversation; but they were the first matches
applied to a train that was long and artfully laid.

CHAPTER XXXIX. A SORROWFUL PARTING

The general was as good as his word, and I now enjoyed the most
unrestricted liberty; in fact, the officers of the garrison said truly,
that they were far more like prisoners than I was. As regularly as
evening came, I descended the path to the village, and, as the bell
tolled out the vespers, I was crossing the little grass-plot to the
cottage. So regularly was I looked for, that the pursuits of each
evening were resumed as though only accidentally interrupted. The
unfinished game of chess, the half-read volume, the newly-begun drawing,
were taken up where we had left them, and life seemed to have centred
itself in those delightful hours between sunset and midnight.

I suppose there are few young men who have not, at some time or