n. She hastened her steps. Seeing that she wished to escape an
importune declaration, he became the more ardent; being determined to
win a first favor from this woman, he risked all and said, looking at
her meaningly:--

"Shall I tell you a secret?"

"Yes, quickly, if it concerns you."

"I am not in the service of the Republic. Where are you going? I shall
follow you."

At the words Marie trembled violently. She withdrew her arm and covered
her face with both hands to hide either the flush or the pallor of her
cheeks; then she suddenly uncovered her face and said in a voice of deep
emotion:--

"Then you began as you would have ended, by deceiving me?"

"Yes," he said.

At this answer she turned again from the carriage, which was now
overtaking them, and began to almost run along the road.

"I thought," he said, following her, "that the open air did not agree
with you?"

"Oh! it has changed," she replied in a grave tone, continuing to walk
on, a prey to agitating thoughts.

"You do not answer me," said the young man, his heart full of the soft
expectation of coming pleasure.

"Oh!" she said, in a strained voice, "the tragedy begins."

"What tragedy?" he asked.

She stopped short, looked at the young student from head to foot with
a mingled expression of fear and curiosity; then she concealed her
feelings that were agitating her under the mask of an impenetrable
calmness, showing that for a girl of her age she had great experience of
life.

"Who are you?" she said,--"but I know already; when I first saw you I
suspected it. You are the royalist leader whom they call the Gars.
The ex-bishop of Autun was right in saying we should always believe in
presentiments which give warning of evil."

"What interest have you in knowing the Gars?"

"What interest has he in concealing himself from me who have already
saved his life?" She began to laugh, but the merriment was forced. "I
have wisely prevented you from saying that you love me. Let me tell you,
monsieur, that I abhor you. I am republican, you are royalist; I would
deliver you up if you were not under my protection, and if I had not
already saved your life, and if--" she stopped. These violent extremes
of feeling and the inward struggle which she no longer attempted to
conceal alarmed the young man, who tried, but in vain, to observe her
calmly. "Let us part here at once,--I insist upon it; farewell!" she
said. She turned hastily back, made a few steps,