And he was a little sorry for himself and the loneliness which, he felt, would be his hereafter; but that was by the way.
At last it was she herself who broke the silence.
"Monsieur," she asked him, and her voice was strained and husky, "were you in time to save Florimond ?" "Yes, mademoiselle," he answered readily, glad that by that question she should have introduced the subject.

"I was in time." "And Marius ?" she inquired.

"From what I heard you say, I take it that he has suffered no harm." "He has suffered none.

I have spared him that he might participate in the joy of his mother at her union with Monsieur de Tressan." "I am glad it was so, monsieur.

Tell me of it." Her voice sounded formal and constrained.
But either he did not hear or did not heed the question.
"Mademoiselle," he said slowly.