before his door. The brawling
of the water as it poured between the banks, a score of paces from us,
and the black darkness which hid everything beyond the little ring
of light in which we stood--so that for all we could see we were in a
pit--had the air of isolating us from all the world.

I looked at the young man, who had not once lisped that day; and I
plainly read in his attitude his disapproval of my caution. Though he
declined to meet my eye, he stood with his arms folded and his head
thrown back, making no attempt to disguise the scorn and ill-temper
which his face expressed. Hurt by the woman's taunts, and possibly
shaken in my opinion, I grew restive under his silence, and unwisely
gave way to my feelings.

'You do not appear to approve of my decision, M. d'Agen?' I said.

'It is yours to command, sir,' he answered proudly.

There are truisms which have more power to annoy than the veriest
reproaches. I should have borne in mind the suspense and anxiety he was
suffering, and which had so changed him that I scarcely knew him for
the gay young spark on whose toe I had trodden. I should have remembered
that he was young and I old, and that it behoved me to be patient. But
on my side also there was anxiety, and responsibility as well; and,
above all, a rankling soreness, to which I refrain from giving the name
of jealousy, though it came as near to that feeling as the difference
in our ages and personal advantages (whereof the balance was all on his
side) would permit. This, no doubt, it was which impelled me to continue
the argument.

'You would go on?' I said persistently.

'It is idle to say what I would do,' he answered with a flash of anger.

'I asked for your opinion, sir,' I rejoined stiffly.

'To what purpose?' he retorted, stroking his small moustache haughtily,
'We look at the thing from opposite points. You, are going about your
business, which appears to be the rescuing of ladies who are--may I
venture to say it? so unfortunate as to entrust themselves to your
charge. I, M. de Marsac, am more deeply interested. More deeply
interested,' he repeated lamely. 'I--in a word, I am prepared, sir, to
do what others only talk of--and if I cannot follow otherwise, would
follow on my feet!'

'Whom?' I asked curtly, stung by this repetition of my own words.

He laughed harshly and bitterly. 'Why explain? or why quarrel?'
he replied cynically. 'God knows, if I could afford to quarrel with
you, I should