Bear in mind, we start at three, and do not venture out of hearing." "I understand, M.le Comte," the minister answered.

He spoke quietly, but there was a strange light in his face as he turned to go with her.
None the less he was silent until Madame's lagging feet--for all her interest in the expedition was gone--had borne her a hundred paces from the company.

Then-- "Who knoweth our thoughts and forerunneth all our desires," he murmured.
And when she turned to him, astonished, "Madame," he continued, "I have prayed, ah, how I have prayed, for this opportunity of speaking to you! And it has come.

I would it had come this morning, but it has come.

Do not start or look round; many eyes are on us, and, alas! I have that to say to you which it will move you to hear, and that to ask of you which it must task your courage to perform." She began to tremble, and stood looking up the green slope to the broken grey wall which crowned its summit.
"What is it ?" she whispered, commanding herself with an effort.