Mademoiselle--" She anticipated him.

She had risen, and stood looking straight before her, seeing nothing.
"I am willing," she muttered with a strange gesture, "if it must be." He did not answer.
"If it must be," she repeated slowly, and with a heavy sigh.

And her chin dropped on her breast.

Then, abruptly, suddenly--it was a strange thing to see--she looked up.

A change as complete as the change which had come over Count Hannibal a minute before came over her.