e, prim
man between the executioner's aids, the young Clemenceau listened to the
girl, who probably resembled the Lovely Iza, but looked at the dead
woman at their feet.

"Yes, we are cousins! that is why I took a fancy to you at the sight. I
knew this time I loved for a good reason. The band of nature--the bond
of blood--connected us! But this is not the place or time to pluck
leaves, and compare them, from our genealogical tree. The major has
succeeded in reining in his horse, but, who cares? the old farmhouse
stood a siege in the Great Napoleon's time and could mock at him now.
Leave all--all these cooling pieces of carrion, and my dear grandma!"
she sneered, "and let us hasten to the house where I have friends."

Like a man in a dream, Claudius, or, better, Felix Clemenceau, since
this was his true title, holding the half-emptied revolver by his side,
automatically allowed the strange creature to lead him from the
battlefield. He was oppressed by the magnitude of the ruin he left
behind: the peaceful student to whom the pencil and the eraser were
alone familiar had handled firearms like "the professor" in a shooting
gallery. And then the assertion--or revelation--that he was of kin not
only to the old witch, who had perished in shielding him unintentionally
in saving her grandchild, but to the latter. Fair as a sylph but
icy-hearted as a woman of five social seasons! But the son of the
guillotined wife-murderer should not be fastidious about those relatives
who deigned to recognize him.

The farmhouse was a large stone and brick structure, moss-grown but firm
as a castle; at its porch, three men had tranquilly awaited the result
of the conflict; most of the episodes had been observed by them. Two
were comfortably clothed like farmer and overseer, and showed a
respectful bearing to the third. This was a man of about thirty years,
but looking younger, tall, slender, elegant and proud. Not yet calm,
Clemenceau vaguely recalled the refined, winning, though dissipated
visage; this was the gentleman in the Harmonista who had enlightened him
unawares on the antecedents of Fraulein von Vieradlers. He did not
notice her companion but his stiffness disappeared as he bowed to her.
Without asking for any explanation on the affray, he said to her:

"Can he--your companion--ride? The horses are under saddle. If not--"

Clemenceau replied in the affirmative to Fraulein von Vieradlers,
instead of to the gentleman. He conceived