ery tapestry,
as if appealing to the Madonna upon it! How many times did her eyes look
into mine without knowing it! And more than once Doltaire followed her
glance, and a faint smile passed over his face, as if he saw and was
interested in the struggle in her, apart from his own passion and
desires.

When first I looked in, she was standing near a tall high-backed chair,
in almost the same position as on the day when Doltaire told me of
Braddock's death, accused me of being a spy, and arrested me. It gave
me, too, a thrill to see her raise her handkerchief to her mouth as if
to stop a cry, as she had done then, the black sleeve falling away from
her perfect rounded arm, now looking almost like marble against the
lace. She held her handkerchief to her lips for quite a minute; and
indeed it covered more than a little of her face, so that the features
most showing were her eyes, gazing at Doltaire with a look hard to
interpret, for there seemed in it trouble, entreaty, wonder, resistance,
and a great sorrow--no fear, trepidation, or indirectness.

His disturbing words were these: "To-night I am the Governor of this
country. You once doubted my power--that was when you would save your
lover from death. I proved it in that small thing--I saved him. Well,
when you saw me carried off to the Bastile--it looked like that--my
power seemed to vanish: is it not so? We have talked of this before, but
now is a time to review all things again. And once more I say I am the
Governor of New France. I have had the commission in my hands ever since
I came back. But I have spoken of it to no one--except your lover."

"My husband!" she said steadily, crushing the handkerchief in her hand,
which now rested upon the chair-arm.

"Well, well, your husband--after a fashion. I did not care to use this
as an argument. I chose to win you by personal means alone, to have you
give yourself to Tinoir Doltaire because you set him before any other
man. I am vain, you see; but then vanity is no sin when one has fine
aspirations, and I aspire to you!"

She made a motion with her hand. "Oh, can you not spare me this to-day
of all days in my life--your Excellency?"

"Let it be plain 'monsieur,'" he answered. "I can not spare you, for
this day decides all. As I said, I desired you. At first my wish was to
possess you at any cost: I was your hunter only. I am still your hunter,
but in a different way. I would rather have you in my arms than save New
Fr