He still did not know the French custom, but, bending over suddenly, he kissed the still smooth and handsome hand of Madame Lannes.

As she flushed and looked pleased, he judged that he had made no mistake.

Then he touched lightly the hand of the young girl, and said: "Mademoiselle Julie, I hope to return soon to this house with your brother." "May it be so," she said, in a voice that trembled, "and may you come back to a Paris still French!" John bowed to them both and with tact and delicacy withdrew from the room.

He felt that there should be no witness of Philip's farewell to his mother and sister, before going on a journey from which the chances were that he would never return.
He strolled down the hall, pretending to look at an old picture or two, and in a few minutes Lannes came out and joined him.

John saw tears in his eyes, but his face was set and stern.