Indeed, I know not how to crave your forgiveness, how to thank you, or how to hide my shame at those words I spoke to you this afternoon at Canaples." "Not another word on that score, Mademoiselle!" And to myself I thought of what recompense already had been mine.

To me it had been given to have her lean trustingly upon me, my arm about her waist, whilst, sword in hand, I had fought for her.

Dieu! Was that not something to have lived for ?--aye, and to have died for, methought.
"I deserved, Monsieur," she continued presently, "that you should have left me to my fate for all the odious things I uttered when you warned me of my peril,--for the manner in which I have treated you since your coming to Blois." "You have but treated me, Mademoiselle, in the only manner in which you could treat one so far beneath you, one who is utterly unworthy that you should bestow a single regret upon him." "You are strangely humble to-night, Monsieur.

It is unwonted in you, and for once you wrong yourself.

You have not said that I am forgiven." "I have naught to forgive." "Helas! you have--indeed you have!" "Eh, bien!" quoth I, with a return of my old tone of banter, "I forgive then." Thereafter we travelled on in silence for some little while, my heart full of joy at being so near to her, and the friendliness which she evinced for me, and my mind casting o'er my joyous heart a cloud of some indefinable evil presage.
"You are a brave man, M.de Luynes," she murmured presently, "and I have been taught that brave men are ever honourable and true." "Had they who taught you that known Gaston de Luynes, they would have told you instead that it is possible for a vile man to have the one redeeming virtue of courage, even as it is possible for a liar to have a countenance that is sweet and innocent." "There speaks that humble mood you are affecting, and which sits upon you as my father's clothes might do.