me hard, for my sentence was
unfinished.

"I will go," I continued quickly, "when you shall have promised to
become my wife."

The joy passed from her face. She glanced at me a moment as if without
understanding.

"I came to Lavedan to win you, Roxalanne, and from Lavedan I shall not
stir until I have accomplished my design," I said very quietly. "You
will therefore see that it rests with you how soon I may set out."

She fell to weeping softly, but answered nothing. At last I turned from
her and moved towards the door.

"Where are you going?" she cried.

"To take the air, mademoiselle. If upon deliberation you can bring
yourself to marry me, send me word by Anatole or one of the others, and
I shall set out at once for Toulouse."

"Stop!" she cried. Obediently I stopped, my hand already upon the
doorknob. "You are cruel, monsieur!" she complained.

"I love you," said I, by way of explaining it. "To be cruel seems to be
the way of love. You have been cruel to me."

"Would you--would you take what is not freely given?"

"I have the hope that when you see that you must give, you will give
freely."

"If--if I make you this promise--"

"Yes?" I was growing white with eagerness.

"You will fulfil your part of the bargain?"

"It is a habit of mine, mademoiselle--as witnesses the case of
Chatellerault." She shivered at the mention of his name. It reminded her
of precisely such another bargain that three nights ago she had made.
Precisely, did I say? Well, not quite precisely.

"I--I promise to marry you, then," said she in a choking voice,
"whenever you choose, after my father shall have been set at liberty."

I bowed. "I shall start at once," said I.

And perhaps out of shame, perhaps out of--who shall say what
sentiments?--I turned without another word and left her.

CHAPTER XX. THE "BRAVI" AT BLAGNAC

I was glad to be in the open once more--glad of the movement, as I rode
at the head of my brave company along the bank of the Garonne and in the
shade of the golden, autumn-tinted trees.

I was in a measure angry with myself that I had driven such a bargain
with Roxalanne, in a measure angry with her that she had forced me to
it by her obstinacy. A fine gentleman I, on my soul, to have dubbed
Chatellerault a cheat for having done no worse than I had now brought
myself to do! Yet, was it so? No, I assured myself, it was not. A
thousand times no! What I had done I had done as much to win Roxalann