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I paused, and for a ers tightened upon mine

"Monsieur de Lesperon," she pleaded, "of what do speak? You are torturing me,there of how I aed, her voice a very caress of suppliant softness,--"tell erate, I a vile"

"Child," I cried, "I thank God that you are right! I cannot do what is dishonourable, and I will not, for all that a ed myself to do it!"

A sudden horror, a doubt, a suspicion flashed into her glance

"You--you do not mean that you are a spy?" she asked; and from my heart a prayer of thanks went up to Heaven that this at least it was mine frankly to deny

"No, no--not that I am no spy"

Her face cleared again, and she sighed

"It is, I think, the only thing I could not forgive Since it is not that, will you not tell me what it is?"

For a , was again upon me But the futility of it appalled ht her; "you will learn it soon enough" For I was confident that once er was paid, the news of it and of the ruin of Bardelys would spread across the face of France like a ripple over water Presently-"Forgivecohed again "Helas! Had I but known you earlier! I did not dream such women lived in this worn-out France"

"I will not pry, monsieur, since your resolve appears to be so fir you speak of," she said presently, speaking with averted eyes, "and if, having heard it, I judge you e yourself, and I send for you, will you--will you coreat, a sudden throb of hope But as sudden and as great was the rebound into despair

"You will not send for me, be assured of that," I said with finality; and we spoke no orously I was in haste to end the situation Tomorrow I must think of my departure, and, as I rowed, I pondered the words that had passed between us Not one word of love had there been, and yet, in the very oe wooing had been , and yet a wooing that had won Aye, it had won; but it ht not take I ed at , and with so of pain