ed his request. Dieppe stood in the doorway a moment,
listening. Then he pushed the door shut--it opened inwards--and with
some effort set the wooden block against it.

"That will keep out the rain," said he, "and--and anything else, you
know."

They were in dense darkness. The Captain took a candle and a cardboard
box of matches from an inner pocket. Striking a match after one or two
efforts (for matches and box were both damp), he melted the end of the
candle and pressed it on the block till it adhered. Then he lit the
wick. The lady watched him admiringly.

"You seem ready for anything," she said. But the Captain shook his
head sorrowfully, as he laid his match-box down on a dry spot on the
block.

"We have no time to lose--" he began.

"No," she agreed, and opening her cloak she searched for something.
Finding the object she sought, she held it out to him. "I got that
this afternoon. Read it," she said. "It's from the man you met last
night--Paul de Roustache. The 'Other quarter' means Andrea. And that
means ruin."

Captain Dieppe gently waved the letter aside.

"No, you must read it," she urged.

He took it, and bending down to the candle read it. "Just what it
would be," he said.

"I can't explain anything, you know," she added hastily, with a smile
half rueful, half amused.

"To me, at least, there 's no need you should." He paused a moment in
hesitation or emotion. Then he put his hand in his waistcoat-pocket,
drew forth a small object, and held it out towards his companion
between his finger and thumb. In the dim light she did not perceive
its nature.

"This," said the Captain, conscientiously and even textually delivering
the message with which he was charged, "is the pledge of love."

"Captain Dieppe!" she cried, leaping back and blushing vividly.
"Really I--! At such a time--under the circ-- And what is it! I
can't see."

"The pledge of love renewed"--the Captain went on in a loyal hastiness,
but not without the sharpest pang--"of Andrea's undying love for you."

"Of Andrea's--!" She stopped, presumably from excess of emotion. Her
lips were parted in a wondering smile, her eyes danced merrily even
while they questioned. "What in the world is it?" she asked again.

"Your wedding-ring," said the Captain with sad and impressive
solemnity, and, on the pretext of snuffing the candle which flickered
and guttered in the draught, he turned away. Thus he did not perceive
th