One moment more and I should have said something to the purpose.

But at that word she stood before me, white, breathless, dishevelled, struggling for speech.
'Oh, yes, yes!' she panted eagerly.

'I know--I know!' And she thrust her hand into her bosom and plucked something out and gave it to me--forced it upon me.

'I know--I know!' she said again.

'Take it, and God reward you, Monsieur! God reward you! We give it freely--freely and thankfully!' I stood and looked at her and it; and slowly I froze.