self? Have you no tongue? Have you
no will of your own at all, M. de Marsac?'

'But, mademoiselle,' I began, trying to explain.

'Chut!' she exclaimed, cutting me short before I could get farther, as
the way of women is. And then she added, in a changed tone, and very
abruptly, 'You have a velvet knot of mine, sir. Give it me.'

'It is in my room,' I answered, astonished beyond measure at this sudden
change of subject, and equally sudden demand.

'Then fetch it, sir, if you please,' she replied, her eyes flashing
afresh. 'Fetch it. Fetch it, I say! It has served its turn, and I prefer
to have it. Who knows but that some day you may be showing it for a
love-knot?'

'Mademoiselle!' I cried, hotly. And I think that for the moment I was as
angry as she was.

'Still, I prefer to have it,' she answered sullenly, casting down her
eyes.

I was so much enraged, I went without a word and fetched it, and,
bringing it to her where she stood, in the same place, put it into her
hands. When she saw it some recollection, I fancy, of the day when she
had traced the cry for help on it, came to her in her anger; for she
took it from me with all her bearing altered. She trembled, and held it
for a moment in her hands, as if she did not know what to do with it.
She was thinking, doubtless, of the house in Blois and the peril she had
run there; and, being for my part quite willing that she should think
and feel how badly she had acted, I stood looking at her, sparing her no
whit of my glance.

'The gold chain you left on my mother's pillow,' I said coldly, seeing
she continued silent, 'I cannot return to you at once, for I have
pledged it. But I will do so as soon as I can.'

'You have pledged it?' she muttered, with her eyes averted.

'Yes, mademoiselle, to procure a horse to bring me here,' I replied
drily. 'However, it, shall be redeemed. In return, there is something I
too would ask.'

'What?' she murmured, recovering herself with all effort, and looking at
me with something of her old pride and defiance.

'The broken coin you have,' I said. 'The token, I mean. It is of no use
to you, for your enemies hold the other half. It might be of service to
me.'

'How?' she asked curtly.

'Because some day I may find its fellow, mademoiselle,'

'And then?' she cried. She looked at me, her lips parted, her eyes
flashing. 'What then, when you have found its fellow, M. de Marsac?'

I shrugged my shoulders.

'Bah!' she exclaimed