mortal life so precious to those who have nothing for which to live?"

"Rot!" Max said fiercely. "You have plenty to live for. When this
scoundrel Rodolphe is disposed of they will be reinstating you. You've
got to live to have your honour vindicated. Does that mean nothing to
you?"

Bertrand shrugged his shoulders. "It would interest me exactly as the
procession under the windows interests those who watch. The procession
passes, and the street is empty again. What is that to me?" He snapped
his fingers carelessly. But the animation of his face had transformed it
completely, giving him a look of youth with which Max was wholly
unfamiliar. "See!" he said. "_Le bon Dieu_ has given me this thing to do,
and He will give me the strength to do it. That is His way, _mon ami_. He
does not command us to make bricks without straw."

Max grunted. "Whatever you do, you will have to pay for," he observed
dryly. "And how are you going to get to Valpre without being arrested?"

"But I will disguise myself. That should be easy." Bertrand laughed
again, and suddenly stretched out his arms and rose. "I am well," he
declared. "I have been given the strength, and I will use it. Have no
fear, Max. It will not fail me."

"I shall go too, then," Max said abruptly. "Sit down, man, and be
rational. You don't suppose I shall let you tear all over France in your
present condition by yourself, do you? If you excite yourself in this
fashion, you will be having that infernal pain again. Sit down, I tell
you!"

Bertrand sat down, but as if he moved on wires. "No," he said with
confidence, "I shall not suffer any more to-night. You say that you will
go with me? But indeed it is not necessary. And you have your work to do.
I would not have you leave it on my account."

"I am coming," Max said, with finality, "And look here, Bertrand, I shall
be in command of this expedition, and we are not going to travel at
break-neck speed. You will not reach Valpre till the day after to-morrow.
That is understood, is it?"

Bertrand hesitated and looked dubious.

"Come, man, it's for your own good. You don't want to die before you get
there." Max's tone was severely practical.

"Ah no! Not that! I must not fail, Max. I must not fail." Bertrand spoke
with great earnestness. He laid an impressive hand on his companion's
arm. For a moment his face betrayed emotion. "I cannot--I will not--die
before her happiness is assured. It is that for which I now live, f