," he answered, rather grandly.

So there was a touch of the bombastic in his manner even yet! She
laughed a little ironically. Then all at once her thoughts reverted to
Elise, and some latent cruelty in her awoke. Though she believed the
girl, she would accuse the man, the more so, because she suddenly became
aware that his eyes were fixed on herself in ardent admiration.

"You might not have a convenient window," she said, with deliberate,
consuming suggestion.

His glance never wavered, though he understood instantly what she meant.
Well, she had discovered that! He flushed.

"Madame," he said, "I hope that I am a gentleman at heart."

The whole scene came back on him, and a moisture sprang to his eyes.

"She is innocent," he continued--"upon my sacred honour! Yes, yes,
I know that the evidence is all against me, but I speak the absolute
truth. You saw--that night, did you?"

She nodded.

"Ah, it is a pity--a pity. But, madame, as you are a true woman, believe
what I say; for, I repeat, it is the truth."

Then, with admirable reticence, even great delicacy, he told the story
as Elise had told it, and as convincingly.

"I believe you, monsieur," she said frankly, when he had done, and
stretched out her hand to him with a sudden impulse of regard. "Now,
follow up that unselfishness by another."

He looked inquiringly at her.

"Give up this mad chase," she added eagerly.

"Never!" was his instant reply. "Never!"

"I beg of you, I appeal to you-my friend," she urged, with that ardour
of the counsel who pleads a bad cause.

"I do not impeach you or your claims, but I ask that you leave this
village as you found it, these happy people undisturbed in their homes.
Ah, go! Go now, and you will be a name to them, remembered always with
admiration. You have been courageous, you have been loved, you have been
inspiring--ah, yes, I admit it, even to me!--inspiring! The spirit of
adventure in you, your hopes, your plans to do great things, roused me.
It was that made me your ally more than aught else. Truly and frankly,
I do not think that I am convinced of anything save that you are no
coward, and that you love a cause. Let it go at that--you must, you
must. You came in the night, privately and mysteriously; go in the
night, this night, mysteriously--an inscrutable, romantic figure. If
you are all you say, and I should be glad to think so,--go where your
talents will have greater play, your claims larger recogni