through, and my heart it beats so
very fast! Oh, no, m'sieu', no more!"

Her cheeks were glowing, and her eyes had become softer and more
brilliant under the influence of the potent liqueur.

"Well, well, I'll let you off this time; but next time--next time,
remember."

He raised the glass once more, and let the cordial drain down lazily.

He had said, "next time"--she noticed that. He seemed very fond of this
strong liqueur. She placed the bottle on the table, her own glass beside
it.

"For a minute, a little minute," she said suddenly, and went quickly
into the other room.

He coolly picked up the bottle of liqueur, poured his glass full once
more, and began drinking it off in little sips. Presently he stood up,
and throwing back his shoulder, with a little ostentation of health, he
went over to the chintz-covered chair, and sat down in it. His mood
was contented and brisk. He held up the glass of liqueur against the
sunlight.

"Better than any Benedictine I ever tasted," he said. "A dozen bottles
of that would cure this beastly cold of mine. By Jove! it would. It's
as good as the Gardivani I got that blessed day when we chaps of the
Ninetieth breakfasted with the King of Savoy." He laughed to himself at
the reminiscence. "What a day that was, what a stunning day that was!"

He was still smiling, his white teeth showing humorously, when Sophie
again entered the room. He had forgotten her, forgotten all about her.
As she came in he made a quick, courteous movement to rise--too quick;
for a sharp pain shot through his breast, and he grew pale about the
lips. But he made essay to stand up lightly, nevertheless.

She saw his paleness, came quickly to him, and put out her hand to
gently force him back into his seat, but as instantly decided not to
notice his indisposition, and turned towards the table instead. Taking
the bottle of cordial, she brought it over, and not looking at him,
said:

"Just one more little glass, m'sieu'?" She had in her other hand a plate
of seed-cakes. "But yes, you must sit down and eat a cake," she added
adroitly. "They are very nice, and I made them myself. We are very fond
of them; and once, when the bishop stayed at our house, he liked them
too."

Before he sat down he drank off the whole of the cordial in the glass.

She took a chair near him, and breaking a seed-cake began eating it. His
tongue was loosened now, and he told her what he was smiling at when she
came into the ro