ying the fact since she could no
longer pooh-pooh its significance. "Are you a coward?" she exclaimed
indignantly.

"I 've got some sense in my head," said he with a grin.

At this moment Captain Dieppe, wishing that he were dry, that he had a
hat, that his moustache would curl, yet rising victorious over all
disadvantages by virtue of his temperament and breeding, concealing
also any personal interest that he had in the settlement of the
question, approached the carriage, bowed to its occupant, and inquired,
with the utmost courtesy, whether he could be of any service.

"It 's of great importance to me to cross," said she, returning his
salutation.

"It's impossible to cross," interposed the driver.

"Nonsense; I have crossed myself," remarked Captain Dieppe.

Both of them looked at him; he anticipated their questions or
objections.

"Crossing on foot one naturally gets a little wet," said he, smiling.

"I won't let my horses cross," declared the driver. The Captain eyed
him with a slightly threatening expression, but he did not like to
quarrel before a lady.

"You 're afraid for your own skin," he said contemptuously. "Stay this
side. I 'll bring the carriage back to you." He felt in his pocket
and discovered two louis and two five-franc pieces. He handed the
former coins to the driver. "I take all the responsibility to your
master," he ended, and opening the carriage door he invited the lady to
alight.

She was dark, tall, handsome, a woman of presence and of dignity. She
took his hand and descended with much grace.

"I am greatly in your debt, sir," she said.

"Ladies, madame," he replied with a tentative advance of his hand
toward his moustache, checked in time by a remembrance of the
circumstances, "confer obligations often, but can contract none."

"I wish everybody thought as you do," said she with a deep sigh.

"Shall I mount the box?"

"If you please." He mounted after her, and took the reins. Cracking
the whip, he urged on the horses.

"Body of the saints," cried the driver, stirred to emulation, "I 'll
come with you!" and he leaped up on to the top of a travelling-trunk
that was strapped behind the carriage.

"There is more good in human nature than one is apt to think," observed
the Captain.

"If only one knows how to appeal to it," added the lady, sighing again
very pathetically.

Somehow, the Captain received the idea that she was in trouble. He
felt drawn to her, and