s
from conquest not important enough to satisfy ambition? The social
conquest of a village--to be conspicuous and attract the groundlings in
this tiny theatre of life, that seemed little!

Valmond appeared not to see the little coterie, but presently turned,
when just opposite the gate, and, raising his hat, half paused. Then,
without more ado, he opened the gate and advanced to the outstretched
hand of the Cure, who greeted him with a courtly affability. He shook
hands with, and nodded good-humouredly at, Medallion and the Little
Chemist, bowed to the avocat, and touched off his greeting to Monsieur
De la Riviere with deliberation, not offering his hand--this very
reserve a sign of equality not lost on the young Seigneur. He had not
this stranger at any particular advantage, as he had wished, he knew
scarcely why. Valmond took the seat offered him beside the Cure, who
remarked presently:

"My dear friend, Monsieur Garon, was saying just now that the spirit of
France has ever been the Captain of Freedom among the nations."

Valmond glanced quickly from the Cure to the others, a swift,
inquisitive look, then settled back in his chair, and turned, bowing,
towards Monsieur Garon. The avocat's pale face flushed, his long, thin
fingers twined round each other and untwined, and presently he said, in
his little chirping voice, so quaint as to be almost unreal:

"I was saying that the spirit of France lived always ahead of the time,
was ever first to conceive the feeling of the coming century, and by its
own struggles and sufferings--sometimes too abrupt and perilous--made
easy the way for the rest of the world."

During these words a change passed over Valmond. His restless body
became still, his mobile face steady and almost set--all the life of
him seemed to have burnt into his eyes; but he answered nothing, and the
Cure, in the pause, was constrained to say:

"Our dear Monsieur Garon knows perfectly the history of France, and
is devoted to the study of the Napoleonic times and of the Great
Revolution--alas for our people and the saints of Holy Church who
perished then!"

The avocat lifted a hand in mute disacknowledgment. Again there was a
silence, and out of the pause Monsieur De la Riviere's voice was heard.

"Monsieur Valmond, how fares this spirit of France now--you come from
France?"

There was a shadow of condescension and ulterior meaning in De la
Riviere's voice, for he had caught the tricks of the poseur