Her lips were half parted, and one fair tress of hair had escaped from her hood.

"M.

de Caylus, will you do me a favour," she resumed, softly, "a favour for which I shall always be grateful ?" I sighed.

"Madame," I said earnestly, for I felt the solemnity of the occasion, "I swear that in ten minutes, if the task I now have in hand be finished I will devote my life to your service.

For the present--" "Well, for the present?
But it is the present I want, Master Discretion." "I must see M.de Pavannes! I am pledged to it," I ejaculated.
"To see M.de Pavannes ?" "Yes." I was conscious that she was looking at me with eyes of doubt, almost of suspicion.
"Why?
Why ?" she asked with evident surprise.