ced the wide carved eaves, and even tapestried with green the three
gables that on each side of the court broke the skyline. The grapes hung
nearly ripe, and amid their clusters and the green lattice of their
foliage Tignonville's gaze sought eagerly but in vain the laughing eyes
and piquant face of his new mistress. For with the closing of the door,
and the passing from him of the horrors of the streets, he had entered,
as by magic, a new and smiling world; a world of tennis and roses, of
tinkling voices and women's wiles, a world which smacked of Florence and
the South, and love and life; a world which his late experiences had set
so far away from him, his memory of it seemed a dream. Now, as he drank
in its stillness and its fragrance, as he felt its safety and its luxury
lap him round once more, he sighed. And with that breath he rid himself
of much.

The servant led him to a parlour, a cool shady room on the farther side
of the tiny quadrangle, and, muttering something inaudible, withdrew. A
moment later a frolicsome laugh, and the light flutter of a woman's skirt
as she tripped across the court, brought the blood to his cheeks. He
went a step nearer to the door, and his eyes grew bright.

CHAPTER X. MADAME ST. LO.

So far excitement had supported Tignonville in his escape. It was only
when he knew himself safe, when he heard Madame St. Lo's footstep in the
courtyard and knew that in a moment he would see her, that he knew also
that he was failing for want of food. The room seemed to go round with
him; the window to shift, the light to flicker. And then again, with
equal abruptness, he grew strong and steady and perfectly master of
himself. Nay, never had he felt a confidence in himself so overwhelming
or a capacity so complete. The triumph of that which he had done, the
knowledge that of so many he, almost alone, had escaped, filled his brain
with a delicious and intoxicating vanity. When the door opened, and
Madame St. Lo appeared on the threshold, he advanced holding out his
arms. He expected that she would fall into them.

But Madame only backed and curtseyed, a mischievous light in her eyes.

"A thousand thanks, Monsieur!" she said, "but you are more ready than I!"
And she remained by the door.

"I have come to you through all!" he cried, speaking loudly because of a
humming in his ears. "They are lying in the streets! They are dying,
are dead, are hunted, are pursued, are perishin