Intimate, indeed, had they unconsciously become already.

Their singular position, locked together in that tower--a position utterly impossible under any but the conditions that attended it--had conduced to that good-fellowship, whilst the girl's trust and dependence upon the man, the man's observance of that trust, and his determination to show her that it had not been misplaced, had done the rest.
But to-night they seemed to have drawn nearer in spirit to each other, and that, maybe, it was that prompted Valerie to sigh, and in her sweet, unthinking innocence to say again: "I am truly sorry, Monsieur de Garnache, that our sojourn here is coming to an end." He was no coxcomb, and he set no false value on the words.

He laughed for answer, as he rejoined: "Not so am I, mademoiselle.

Nor shall I know peace of mind again until this ill-omened chateau is a good three leagues or so behind us.

Sh! What was that ?" He came instantly to his feet, his face intent and serious.