au gravely. "I regret
that you are an enemy and that I can not----"

"But we are not enemies, Monsieur," cried one of the officers, who had
just succeeded in working a gag out of his mouth. "We are Russian
officers of the Imperial Guard and since you have deserted the cause of
the Corsican you will----"

"Deserted!" thundered Marteau, his pale face flaming. "That was as
much a ruse as the other."

"What, then, do you mean by wearing a Russian coat over your uniform
and----"

"He is a spy. He shall be hanged," said the other, also freeing
himself of his gag.

"Indeed," laughed Marteau. "And do you gentlemen ask me to release you
in order that you may hang me?"

"I won't hang you," burst out the Englishman. "On the contrary, I'll
give you fifty pounds if you'll cut these cords and----"

Marteau shook his head.

"Countess," bellowed Yeovil angrily, "there's a knife on the table
yonder, pray do you----"

The young woman made a swift step in that direction, but the Frenchman
was too quick for her.

"Pardon me, mademoiselle, I beg that the first use you make of your new
life be not to aid my enemies."

"Your enemies, Marteau?"

"The enemies of France, then."

"Not my uncle's France," said the girl.

"But your father's, and I had hoped yours."

"No, no."

"In any event, these gentlemen must remain bound for the time being.
No harm shall come to you from me," continued Marteau, addressing the
two officers. "But as for these hounds----" He stepped over to the
two Cossacks, who lay mute. He bent over them with such a look of
rage, ruthless determination and evil purpose in his face as startled
the woman into action.

"Monsieur!" she cried, stepping over to him and striving to interpose
between him and the two men. "Marteau, what would you do?"

"My sister--dead in the cottage yonder after--after----" he choked out.
He stopped, his fingers twitching. "My old father! If I served them
right I would pitch them into yonder fireplace or torture them, the
dogs, the cowards!"

"My friend," said the young Countess gently, laying her hand on his arm.

Marteau threw up his hands, that touch recalled him to his senses.

"I will let them alone for the present," he said. "Meanwhile----" He
seized the dead man and dragged the body out of sight behind the tables.

"Will monsieur give a thought to me?" came another voice from the dim
recesses of a far corner.

"And who are you?" asked Marteau, lifting