And now he saw, more or less.

The stout man and Grio had their heads together and their faces bent over the girl's hand, which the former held.

On them, however, Claude scarcely bestowed a glance.

It was the girl's face which caught and held his eyes, nay, made them burn.

Had it blushed, had it showed white, he had borne the thing more lightly, he had understood it better.