r I have is yours. See----" she stripped rings from her
fingers and proffered them--"take them."

"Mademoiselle," said the young man sadly, "you wrong me."

"Well, if it was not for murder or for gain, for what cause did you
take so frightful a risk?"

"Is there no other motive, mademoiselle, that makes men risk their
lives than revenge or greed?"

"What do you mean?"

"Love."

"But you said you did not know this was my room!"

The words came from her impetuously and before she thought she realized
when it was too late.

"Ah, mademoiselle, love of woman is a great passion. I know it only
too well, too sadly. But it is not the only love."

"Have you another in your heart?" asked the Countess with a sinking in
her own.

"Love of honor."

"I don't understand."

"And yet I know that you are the very soul of honor yourself."

"I thank you, but----"

"Mademoiselle," said the young man, coming to a sudden resolution,
"appearances are frightfully against me. That I should be here, in
your room, at this hour of the night, under the circumstances, condemns
me utterly in your opinion, especially as I have offered no adequate
explanation. I am about to throw myself on your mercy, to trust to
your honor."

"You shall not trust in vain, monsieur."

"I know that. I trusted to your honor in the Chateau d'Aumenier and
you did not fail me then."

"Nor will I now."

"Will you give me your word not to reveal what I tell you, and not to
make use of the knowledge I communicate, until I give you leave?"

"Does it concern the honor or the welfare of those I love?"

"You mean that Englishman?"

"I do not love--I mean the Marquis, my uncle."

"It does not," said the young man, noting with throbbing heart the
broken sentence.

"Then I give my promise. Speak."

"I came here to conceal something, mademoiselle."

"What?"

"An emblem."

"Yours?"

"The Emperor's."

"You mean----"

"The Eagle of the Fifth-regiment-of-the-Line."

"Why here?"

"It is a long story. I brought it back, having fished it out of the
river Aube, where it had lain since that day----"

"When I thought you killed," said the young woman, her hand pressed to
her heart.

"And were you sorry?"

"Sorry? I---- But go on."

"I showed it to the officers of the regiment tonight at Major
Lestoype's quarters. We were discovered. The matter was reported to
your uncle. Rather than give up the Eagle I said that I would hide it."