ed.

"Allow me a word, Sire," asked the General with that exquisite mixture
of courtesy, deference and resolution which characterized his
intercourse with the Emperor.

"I am always glad to hear from you, my good Maurice," said the Emperor
familiarly. "What have you to say?"

"This young woman is no traitor to you or to France, Sire, however
strange her position."

"How do you make that out?" asked the Emperor, the flickering of a
smile playing about his lips.

"It was her hand that struck up the Russian's pistol so that the bullet
went there," the General of cavalry pointed upward a moment and then
his hand fell until his index finger was trained upon the Emperor's
heart, "instead of there," he added meaningly.

"Very good," said the Emperor graciously. "But had she not struck up
that hand it was in Marteau's heart that the bullet would have lodged,
not in mine, if I remember rightly."

"And if that gives me a claim, Sire, to your consideration----"

"Have I not rewarded you enough," asked the Emperor, "in adding the
official stamp of a patent to the nobility of heart which is already
yours and by giving you the forfeited lands of Aumenier to boot?"

"And I would give them all for the safety of the lady yonder, whose
family mine have served for eight hundred years, with whom I played
when a boy, and be content to follow your Majesty as the simple soldier
I have always been."

"Brave heart and true," said the Emperor, touched. "Mademoiselle, you
cannot go back to Bluecher. Within two days his army will be no more.
I will give you a safe conduct. You can remain here for the night.
Couriers will be dispatched to Troyes and to Paris under escort in the
morning. They will take you there. You have friends there, I presume?"

"Many."

"You can remain there or, if opportunity arises, I will give orders to
have you safely conducted so you can go back to England."

"And me, Sire?" growled out Sir Gervaise Yeovil.

The Emperor laughed.

"I am too good a soldier to fight with men of the law," he said. "You
may go with your protegee and share her fortunes."

"I thank your Majesty," said the Englishman, touched in his blunt
nature by this extraordinary magnanimity. "I will report your
consideration to my king and his people and----"

"And say to them that I long for the moment when I can measure swords
with the Duke of Wellington."

"And may that moment come speedily," returned Sir Gervaise.

"As fo