and he leaned
forward to speak in my ear, so that I could feel his breath on my cheek.
I turned faint, for I saw how terrible was this game I was playing;
but oh, Robert, Robert,"--her hands fluttered towards me, then drew
back--"it was for your sake, for your sake, that I let his hand rest
on mine an instant, as he said: 'I shall go hunting THERE to find your
other self. Shall I know the face if I see it?' I drew my hand away,
for it was torture to me, and I hated him, but I only said a little
scornfully, 'You do not stand by your words. You said'--here I laughed
a little disdainfully--'that you would meet the first test to prove your
right to follow the second boast.'

"He got to his feet, and said in a low, firm voice: 'Your memory is
excellent, your aplomb perfect. You are young to know it all so well.
But you bring your own punishment,' he added, with a wicked smile, 'and
you shall pay hereafter. I am going to the Governor. Bigot has arrived,
and is with Madame Cournal yonder. You shall have proof in half an
hour.'

"Then he left me. An idea occurred to me. If he succeeded in staying
your execution, you would in all likelihood be placed in the common
jail. I would try to get an order from the Governor to visit the jail to
distribute gifts to the prisoners, as my mother and I had done before on
the day before Christmas. So, while Monsieur Doltaire was passing with
Bigot and the Chevalier de la Darante into another room, I asked the
Governor; and that very moment, at my wish, he had his secretary write
the order, which he countersigned and handed me, with a gift of gold for
the prisoners. As he left my mother and myself, Monsieur Doltaire came
back with Bigot, and, approaching the Governor, they led him away,
engaging at once in serious talk. One thing I noticed: as monsieur and
Bigot came up, I could see monsieur eying the Intendant askance, as
though he would read treachery; for I feel sure that it was Bigot who
contrived to have monsieur shut up in the chest-room. I can not quite
guess the reason, unless it be true what gossips say, that Bigot is
jealous of the notice Madame Cournal has given Doltaire, who visits much
at her house.

"Well, they asked me to sing, and so I did; and can you guess what it
was? Even the voyageurs' song,--

'Brothers, we go to the Scarlet Hills,
(Little gold sun, come out of the dawn!)'

I know not how I sang it, for my heart, my thoughts, were far away in
a whirl of clouds a