diers who had
fought the hard wars of the Revolution, when bread was often lacking,
Roland cared little for what he ate; he had acquired the habit of eating
whatever was put before him as a precaution against the days when there
might be nothing at all. Sir John's attention in asking him to make a
French breakfast was scarcely noticed by him at all.

But what Roland did notice was Sir John's preoccupation of mind. It was
evident that Sir John had something on his lips which he hesitated to
utter. Roland thought he had better help him.

So, when breakfast was nearly over, Roland, with his usual frankness,
which almost bordered upon brutality at times, leaned his elbows on the
table, settled his chin in his hands, and said: "Well, my dear Sir John,
you have something to say to your friend Roland that you don't dare put
into words."

Sir John started, and, from pale as he was, turned crimson.

"Confound it!" continued Roland, "it must be hard to get out; but, Sir
John, if you have many things to ask me, I know but few that I have the
right to refuse you. So, go on; I am listening."

And Roland closed his eyes as if to concentrate all his attention on
what Sir John was about to say. But the matter was evidently, from Sir
John's point of view, so extremely difficult to make known, that at the
end of a dozen seconds, finding that Sir John was still silent, Roland
opened his eyes.

The Englishman was pale again; but this time he was paler than before.
Roland held out his hand to him.

"Why," he said, "I see you want to make some compliment about the way
you were treated at the Chateau des Noires-Fontaines."

"Precisely, my friend; for the happiness or misery of my life will date
from my sojourn at the chateau."

Roland looked fixedly at Sir John. "The deuce!" he exclaimed, "can I be
so fortunate--" Then he stopped, remembering that what he was about to
say was most unconventional from the social point of view.

"Oh!" exclaimed Sir John, "my dear Roland, finish what you were saying."

"You wish it?"

"I implore you."

"But if I am mistaken; if I should say something nonsensical."

"My friend, my friend, go on."

"Well, as I was saying, my lord, can I be so fortunate as to find your
lordship in love with my sister?"

Sir John gave a cry of joy, and with a rapid movement, of which so
phlegmatic a man might have been thought incapable, he threw himself in
Roland's arms.

"Your sister is an angel, my dear Rola