ad to Les Barres.

"I presume, monsieur, it is for that reason we have been travelling
like snails? Ah! it is fine there." And she waved her hand in the
direction of Miribeau as she asked: "Why not go back to your men,
Monsieur Broussel, and leave me an hour of freedom?"

"You are hard on your escort, mademoiselle," I smiled; "and besides, I
took your look back as a challenge for a race. 'Tis a good little
horse you ride."

"It belongs to M. de Ganache," she answered, and I bit my lip. It
seemed as if I could never be free of De Ganache; but, steadying
myself, I pointed to our men, filing along the white track like ants in
the distance.

"It is fair going, as we know, mademoiselle, back to the road. What
say you to a gallop there?"

She accepted the check she had received with a good grace, and turning
her horse raced back with the recklessness of youth. On this occasion
I took care that Lizette should not be first, and when we rejoined our
party Diane pointed at the mare with her whip as she laughed, for she
had recovered her temper.

"I see now I should not have stopped when I did. Another mile and that
big, dust-coloured thing would have been yards and yards behind; would
she not, Rollo?" And she bent forward and caressed the Norman's sleek
neck. I did not contradict her statement, but contented myself by
saying humbly that there could be no comparison between the two horses.

"I am glad you realise that, monsieur; and we will have another
race--soon, I hope."

"In that case, mademoiselle, I will not stake anything, for I am
certain which horse will win." And with these words I was dropping
back once more to my old place when she stayed me, asking why I did not
ride by her side.

"I feared to intrude, mademoiselle; it is no longer the furrier's niece
I escort."

She turned red. "Ah, monsieur, I am ashamed of my deceit; but there
are things I cannot explain now that forced me to play a part."

"Let the matter rest, mademoiselle."

"I know I must have seemed ungrateful when I left you as I did; but
believe me, monsieur, I can never forget the brave man who risked his
life for me." And she held out her gloved hand, allowing it to rest in
mine for a moment ere she withdrew it gently.

"I did what anyone else would have done. Perhaps, however, you would
like to hear that I have made such arrangements as could be made for
your dead servant."

"It is like you, monsieur, to remember that." An