And yet--how he longed to see her.
He had not expected to see her ever again during his long tramp from Salzburg to Grenoble.

He had not entertained the least idea that she would be there.

He had schooled himself to do without her, contemplate life absolutely sundered from her.

But when he did see her his whole being had flamed with the passion he had so long repressed in vain.
And the Countess Laure knew more of his heart than he fancied.

During the morning she had had young Pierre before her.