t he was a greater man in Paris than
ever he was in Germany--with his Tugendbund--and I cannot remember his
name."

Barlasch broke off and thumped his brow with his fists, as if to awaken
that dead memory. And all the while he was searching Desiree's face,
with eyes made brighter and sharper than ever by starvation.

"And do you know what he came for--the Captain--for he never does
anything in idleness? He will run a great risk--but it is for a great
purpose. Do you know what he came for?"

"No."

Barlasch jerked his head back and laughed.

"For you."

He turned and looked at her; but she had raised her clasped hands to her
forehead, as if to shield her eyes from the light of the candle, and he
could not see her face.

"Do you remember," said Barlasch, "that night when the patron was so
angry--on the mat--when Mademoiselle Mathilde had to make her choice. It
is your turn to-night. You have to make your choice. Will you go?"

"Yes," answered Desiree, behind her fingers.

"'If Mademoiselle will come,' he said to me, 'bring her to this place!'
'Yes, mon capitaine,' answered I. 'At any cost, Barlasch?' 'At any cost,
mon capitaine.' And we are not men to break our words. I will take you
there--at any cost, mademoiselle. And he will meet you there--at any
cost."

And Barlasch expectorated emphatically into the fire, after the manner
of low-born men.

"What a pity," he added reflectively, "that he is only an Englishman."

"When are we to go?" asked Desiree, still behind her barrier of clasped
fingers.

"To-morrow night, after midnight. We have arranged it all--the Captain
and I--at the outpost nearest to the river. He has influence. He has
rendered services to the Russians, and the Russian commander will make
a night attack on the outpost. In the confusion we get through. We
arranged it together. He pays me well. It is a bargain, and I am to have
my money. We shook hands on it, and those who saw us must have thought
that I was buying fish. I, who have no money--and he, who had no fish."

CHAPTER XXX. THE FULFILMENT.

And I have laboured somewhat in my time
And not been paid profusely.

When Desiree came down the next morning, she found Barlasch talking to
himself and laughing as he prepared his breakfast.

He met her with a gay salutation, and seemed unable to control his
hilarity.

"It is," he explained, "because to-night we shall be under fire. We
shall be in danger. It makes me afr