ter effect. He sat still
for a moment, looking at the woman with the profound gaze of one moved
to the soul. Then he got to his feet slowly, opened the door, and
quietly calling Perrot, whispered to him. Perrot threw up his hands in
surprise, and hurried away.

Then Iberville shut the door, and came back. Neither man had made any
show of caring for their wounds. Still silent, Iberville drew forth
linen and laid it upon the table. Then he went to the window, and as
he looked through the parted curtains out upon the water--the room hung
over the edge of the cliff-he bound his own shoulder. Gering had lost
blood, but weak as he was he carried himself well. For full half an hour
Iberville stood motionless while the wife bound her husband's wounds.

At length the door opened and Perrot entered. Iberville did not hear
him at first, and Perrot came over to him. "All is ready, monsieur," he
said.

Iberville, nodding, came to the table where stood the husband and
wife, and Perrot left the room. He picked up a sword and laid it beside
Gering, then waved his hand towards the door.

"You are free to go, monsieur," he said. "You will have escort to your
country. Go now--pray, go quickly."

He feared he might suddenly repent of his action, and going to the door,
he held it open for them to pass. Gering picked up the sword, found
the belt and sheath, and stepped to the doorway with his wife. Here he
paused as if he would speak to Iberville: he was ready now for final
peace. But Iberville's eyes looked resolutely away, and Gering sighed
and passed into the hallway. Now the wife stood beside Iberville.
She looked at him steadily, but at first he would not meet her eye.
Presently, however, he did so.

"Good-bye," she said brokenly, "I shall always remember--always."

His reply was bitter. "Good-bye, madame: I shall forget."

She made a sad little gesture and passed on, but presently turned, as if
she could not bear that kind of parting, and stretched out her hands to
him.

"Monsieur--Pierre!" she cried, in a weak, choking voice.

With hot frank impulse he caught both her hands in his and kissed them.
"I shall--remember," he said, with great gentleness.

Then they passed from the hallway, and he was alone. He stood looking
at the closed door, but after a moment went to the table, sat down, and
threw his head forward in his arms.

An hour afterwards, when Count Frontenac entered upon him, he was still
in the same position. F