elt a sudden fear, and drew back
sick; but that was for an instant, for even as the valet came to the
Intendant's chair a dozen or more men, who were sitting near together in
noisy yet half-secret conference, rose to their feet, each with a mask
in his hand, and started towards the door. I felt my blood fly back
and forth in my heart with great violence, and I leaned against the oak
screen for support. 'Courage,' said the voice of Jamond in my ear, and I
ruled myself to quietness.

"Just then the Intendant's voice stopped the men in their movement
towards the great entrance door, and drew the attention of the whole
company. 'Messieurs,' said he, 'a lady has come to dance for us. She
makes conditions which must be respected. She must be let come and
go without individual courtesies. Messieurs,' he added, 'I grant her
request in your name and my own.'

"There was a murmur of 'Jamond! Jamond!' and every man stood looking
towards the great entrance door. The Intendant, however, was gazing
towards the door where I was, and I saw he was about to come, as if to
welcome me. Welcome from Francois Bigot to a dancing-woman! I slipped
off the cloak, looked at Jamond, who murmured once again, 'Courage,' and
then I stepped out swiftly, and made for a low, large dais at one side
of the room. I was so nervous that I knew not how I went. The faces and
forms of the company were blurred before me, and the lights shook and
multiplied distractedly. The room shone brilliantly, yet just under the
great canopy, over the dais; there were shadows, and they seemed to me,
as I stepped under the red velvet, a relief, a sort of hiding-place from
innumerable candles and hot unnatural eyes.

"Once there I was changed. I did not think of the applause that greeted
me, the murmurs of surprise, approbation, questioning, rising round me.
Suddenly, as I paused and faced them all, nervousness passed out of me,
and I saw nothing--nothing but a sort of far-off picture. My mind
was caught away into that world which I had created for myself when
I danced, and these rude gentlemen were but visions. All sense of
indignity passed from me. I was only a woman fighting for a life and for
her own and her another's happiness.

"As I danced I did not know how time passed--only that I must keep those
men where they were till General Montcalm came. After a while, when the
first dazed feeling had passed, I could see their faces plainly through
my mask, and I knew that I