The sooner you leave me, the sooner you place yourself in a position of security, the happier for me! Every moment that you spend here, you endanger both yourself and me!" "If you will not be persuaded--" "I shall not be persuaded," she answered firmly, "and you do but"-- alas! her pride began to break down, her voice to quiver, she looked piteously at him--"by staying here make it harder for me to--to--" "Hush!" cried Madame Carlat.

"Hush!" And as they started and turned towards her--she was at the end of the chamber by the door, almost out of earshot--she raised a warning hand.

"Listen!" she muttered, "some one has entered the house." "'Tis my messenger from Biron," Tignonville answered sullenly.

And he drew his cowl over his face, and, hiding his hands in his sleeves, moved towards the door.

But on the threshold he turned and held out his arms.
He could not go thus.