showed the qualities of his birth and rank.

"Mademoiselle," he began gravely, almost tenderly. He looked a long
time at her. "Little Laure," he continued at last, taking her slender
hand in his own great one, "I had hoped that you might some day call me
father but that hope is gone--since Waterloo. If I were your real
father now I should say----"

"Monsieur!" whispered the woman, her eyes brightening, her hand
tightening in the clasp of the other.

"And I think the old Marquis would say that it is the will of God,
now----" He bit his lip. It was all so different from what he
imagined.

"Go on, if you please," whispered Marteau. "I am ill. I cannot
bear----"

"If she be guided by me she will be your wife, young sir," said Sir
Gervaise decisively.

He dropped the woman's hand. He turned and walked heavily out of the
room without a backward glance. He could do no more.

"And will you stoop to me?" pleaded Marteau.

For answer the woman knelt by his bed and slipped her arm tenderly
under his head. She bent and kissed him.

"When you are stronger," she replied, "you shall raise me up to your
own high level of courage and devotion and self-sacrifice, but
meanwhile it is upon my bosom that your head must lie."

"Alas," said Marteau, after a little, "the Emperor is taken, the Empire
is lost, my poor France!"

"I will go back with you and we will help to build it up again," said
the woman.

That was the best medicine that could be given to the young man. His
recovery was slow but it was sure and it was the more rapid because of
the gracious care of the woman he loved, who lavished upon him all the
pent-up passion of her fond adoring heart.

Sir Gervaise Yeovil, whose interest at court was great, exerted himself
to secure a reconfirmation of Marteau's patent of nobility and to see
that no difficulties were placed in the way of the young couple in
obtaining repossession of their estates. So that once more there
should be a d'Aumenier and perhaps a renewal of the ancient house in
the old chateau in Champagne. This was easier since Marteau had never
taken oath to King Louis and therefore had broken no faith.

At the quiet wedding that took place as soon as Marteau recovered his
strength a little, Sir Gervaise continued to act the father's part to
the poor woman. After the ceremony he delighted the heart of the
soldier by giving to him what he loved after the woman, the Eagle which
had been Frank Ye