heartened by their pertinacity, dismayed at the
effects of the heavy artillery, now brought to bear on the tower, and
direfully afraid of having the bridge destroyed, would have abandoned
their barbican and shut themselves up within the body of the place, had
not Berenger been here, there, and everywhere, directing, commanding,
exhorting, cheering, encouraging, exciting enthusiasm by word and
example, winning proud admiration by feats of valour and dexterity
sprung of the ecstatic inspiration of new-found bliss, and watching,
as the conscious defender of his own most beloved, without a moment's
respite, till twilight stillness sank on the enemy, and old Falconnet
came to relieve him, thanking him for his gallant defence, and auguring
that, by noonday tomorrow at latest, M. le Duc would succour them,
unless he were hampered by any folly of this young Navarre.

Too blissful for the sense of fatigue, Berenger began to impart to the
Commandant his delight, but the only answer he got was 'Hope, yes, every
hope;' and he again recognized what he had already perceived, that the
indistinctness of his utterance made him entirely unintelligible to
the deaf Commandant, and that shouting did but proclaim to the whole
garrison, perhaps even to the enemy's camp, what was still too new a
joy not to be a secret treasure of delight. So he only wrung the old
Captain's hand, and strode away as soon as he was released.

It was nearly dark, in spite of a rising moon, but beneath the cloister
arch was torchlight, glancing on a steel head-piece, and on a white cap,
both bending down over a prostrate figure; and he heard the voice he
loved so well say, 'It is over! I can do no more. It were best to dig
his grave at once here in silence--it will discourage the people less.
Renaud and Armand, here!'

He paused for a few minutes unseen in the shadow while she closed the
eyes and composed the limbs of the dead soldier; then, kneeling, said
the Lord's Prayer in French over him. Was this the being he had left as
the petted plaything of the palace? When she rose, she came to the arch
and gazed wistfully across the moonlit quadrangle, beyond the dark
shade cast by the buildings, saying to the soldier, 'You are sure he was
safe?'

'My Eustacie,' said Berenger, coming forward, 'we meet in grave times!'

The relief of knowing him safe after the sickening yearnings and
suspense of the day, and moreover the old ring of tenderness in his
tone, made her