-string which now reaching sweet accord
in spite of fate, in spite of the past, in spite of all, went singing on
in a deep melody of joy. This was she, the idol, the deity. Let the
world wag. It was a moment yet ere paradise must end!

"Madam, I would God it might be forever!" said Law again. The old
stubborn nature was showing once more, but under it something deeper,
softer, tenderer.

A sudden panic fear called at the heart of her to whom he spoke. Two
rosy spots shone in her cheeks, and as she gazed, her eyes showed the
veiled softening of woman's gentleness. There fell a silence.

"Madam, I could feel that this were Sadler's Wells over again," said Law
a moment later.

But now the carriage had arrived at the destination named by Lady
Catharine. Law sprang out, hat in hand, and assisted Lady Catharine to
the curb. A passing flower girl, gaily offering her wares, paused as the
carriage drew up. Law turned quickly and caught from her as many roses
as his hand could grasp, handing her in return half as much coin as her
smaller palm could hold. He turned to the Lady Catharine, and bowed with
that grace which was the talk of a world of gallants. In his hand he
extended a flower.

"Madam, as before!" he said.

There was a sob in his voice. Their eyes met fairly, unmasked as they
had not been for years. Tears came into the man's eyes, the first that
had ever sat there; tears for the past, tears for that sweetness which
once might have been.

"'Tis for the king! They weep for the king!" sang out the hard voice of
the flower girl, ironically, as she skipped away. "Ohe, for the king,
for the king!"

"Nay, for the queen!" said John Law, as he gazed into the eyes of
Catharine Knollys.

CHAPTER III

SEARCH THOU MY HEART

"Only believe me, Lady Catharine, and I shall do everything I promised
years ago--I shall lay all France at your feet. But if you deny me thus
always, I shall make all France a mockery."

"Monsieur is fresh from the South of France," replied the Lady Catharine
Knollys. "Has Gascon wine perhaps put Gascon speech into his mouth?"

"Oh, laugh if you like," exclaimed Law, rising and pacing across the
great room in which these two had met. "Laugh and mock, but we shall
see!"

"Granted that Mr. Law is well within his customary modesty," replied
Lady Catharine, "and granted even that Mr. Law has all France in the
hollow of his hand to-day, to do with as he likes, I must confess I see
not why