He drew near, saying, 'I grieve to see you thus, Madame'; but she stopped him with a question-- 'They seek to have you marry me ?' He smiled: 'Our masters desire it, Madame.' 'Are you very sure of that ?' 'I am here,' he explained, 'because I am so sure.' 'And you desire--' 'I, Madame,' he said quickly and shortly, 'desire two things--the good of my country and your good.

If I desire anything else, God knows it is to keep my promise.' 'What is your promise ?' 'Madame,' said Richard, 'I bear the Cross on my shoulder, as you see.' 'Why,' she said, fearfully regarding it, 'that is God's work!' She began to walk about the room quickly, and to talk to herself.

He could not catch properly what she said.

Religion came into it, and a question of time.

'Now it should be done, now it should be done!' and then, 'Hear, O thou Shepherd of Israel!' and then with a wild look into Richard's face--'That was a strange thing to do to a lady.