r husband!" she cried again and again. I calmed
her, and presently she broke into a whirl of questions. I told her of
all I had seen at the cathedral and at the convent, what my plans had
been, and then I waited for her answer. A new feeling took possession of
her. She knew that there was one question at my lips which I dared not
utter. She became very quiet, and a sweet, settled firmness came into
her face.

"Robert," she said, "you must go back to your army without me. I can not
leave my father now. Save yourself alone, and if--and if you take the
city, and I am alive, then we shall be reunited. If you do not take the
city, then, whether father lives or dies, I will come to you. Of this be
sure, that I shall never live to be the wife of any other man--wife
or aught else. You know me. You know all, you trust me, and, my dear
husband, my own love, we must part once more. Go, go, and save yourself,
keep your life safe for my sake, and may God in heaven, may God--"

Here she broke off and started back from my embrace, staring hard a
moment over my shoulder; then her face became deadly pale, and she fell
back unconscious. Supporting her, I turned round, and there, inside the
door, with his back to it, was Doltaire. There was a devilish smile on
his face, as wicked a look as I ever saw on any man. I laid Alixe down
on a sofa without a word, and faced him again.

"As many coats as Joseph's coat had colours," he said. "And for once
disguised as an honest man--well, well!"

"Beast" I hissed, and I whipped out my short sword.

"Not here," he said, with a malicious laugh. "You forget your manners:
familiarity"--he glanced towards the couch--"has bred--"

"Coward!" I cried. "I will kill you at her feet."

"Come, then," he answered, and stepped away from the door, drawing his
sword, "since you will have it here. But if I kill you, as I intend--"

He smiled detestably, and motioned towards the couch, then turned to the
door again as if to lock it. I stepped between, my sword at guard. At
that the door opened. A woman came in quickly, and closed it behind her.
She passed me, and faced Doltaire.

It was Madame Cournal. She was most pale, and there was a peculiar
wildness in her eyes.

"You have deposed Francois Bigot," she said.

"Stand back, madame; I have business with this fellow," said Doltaire,
waving his hand.

"My business comes first," she replied. "You--you dare to depose
Francois Bigot!"

"It needs no daring