"St. Laurent," he said sharply, "we have been remiss. Monsieur is ill,
a chair for him. Laure, a glass of wine."

Indeed, the constraint that Marteau had put upon himself had drawn
heavily upon his scanty reserve of nervous force. St. Laurent did not
like the task, but there was that in the Marquis's voice which warned
him not to hesitate. He offered a chair, into which the young man
sank. From a decanter on the table the girl, her hand trembling,
poured out a glass of wine. Swiftly she approached him, she bent over
him, moved by a sudden impulse, she sank on her knees by his side and
tendered him the glass.

"On your knees, Laure!" protested the young Englishman. "It is not
meet that----"

"In gratitude to a man who has served me well and who has set us all a
noble example of renunciation by his surrender of land and title here
in this very room."

"Rise, mademoiselle," said Marteau, taking the glass from her still
trembling hand. "The honor is too great for me. I cannot remain
seated unless----"

"Very pretty," said the Marquis coolly as young Captain Yeovil helped
his reluctant young betrothed to her feet. "Your health, monsieur," he
continued, taking up his own glass. "By all the saints, sir," he added
as he drained his glass, "you have acted quite like a gentleman."

"'Quite,' my uncle?" quoted the young woman with deep emphasis on the
word.

"Well, what more could I say to a Marteau?"

"What more indeed," said the young officer, smiling in proud disdain.

"Damme if I wouldn't have left the 'quite' out," muttered the elder
Yeovil.

"I have your leave to withdraw now, monsieur?" asked the young officer.
"You dismissed me a moment since."

"Now I ask you to stay. By the cross of St. Louis," said the old
Marquis, fingering his order, "I am proud of you, young man. Take the
commission. I should like them to see what sort of men we breed in
Champagne and----"

"I feel I shall be unequal to it. I must withdraw."

"Where are you staying?" asked the young woman eagerly.

"With Major Lestoype, an old comrade."

"And I shall see you once more?"

"I cannot hope to see mademoiselle again. Our ways lie apart."

"Enough," said the Countess imperiously. "It rests with me and I will
see you again. Meanwhile, au revoir."

She offered her hand to the young Frenchman. He seized it eagerly.

"Monsieur allows the privilege to an old and faithful servitor?" he
said to the young Englishman, w