ing, my
throat choked up; I could speak no word to her. Of a truth what a
horrible life it must be; what iron webs do sin and circumstance weave
round their victim. The cowering girl sobbed convulsively on the floor
at my feet. I laid my hand tenderly upon her head.

"Florine, I have but two friends myself in all this land of France.
You have served one of these faithfully in helping me. I will commend
you to him, and am sure he will reward you well."

"Monsieur, I seek no reward; I served you not for money."

She shamed me, though I persisted.

"Not a reward, Florine, but surely you can let him send you back to
your mother. Here is money; his money, not mine; he is rich, I am
poor. He can pay you for valuable service, I can only give you my
undying gratitude."

I bent down and kissed her pale forehead, whereat she wept afresh.

"Claude's wife will keep you here safe until we come again. Then we
will find means to protect and provide for you."

I bade her rise now and calm herself, for a bustle in the street
announced the noisy arrival of several horsemen. A few moments, and
Jerome's voice called me from below to make all ready.

I called Claude's wife up and delivered the girl to her keeping, then
turned to look out into the street. There were now drawn up in front
of the door four sturdy equerries, well mounted, and leading two
excellent nags, which I took to be those Jerome had provided for our
own use.

Jerome obliged me once more to dress with exceeding care, but I fretted
much for my own easy garments which permitted a man to use his limbs
with the freedom God had given them. Verily there would be no regret
when all this frippery could be cast aside, and by my faith, it was
much simpler to lay it off than to array one's self in. I never did
learn all the eccentricities of that remarkable rig my fashionable
friend had adorned me with.

"Had we better not strap on our pistols?" I asked, not knowing what he
purposed.

"No; gentlemen do not wear them. Beside, at Sceaux one sharpens one's
wits, and lets even his good blade dull and rust."

We mustered six stout swords as we clattered away from the Austrian
Arms, and I could not but note, despite what Jerome had said, he took
good care to provide trusty fellows and swift horses.

"A lean hound for a long race," Jerome laughingly remarked, noticing my
inspection of the not over-fed nag I bestrode.

We took that road leading past the heights