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Mademoiselle held the royal warrant of her father's banish of me had been timid I stood before her, and by the door stood Rodenard, whom I had bidden attend me

As I had approached Lavedan that day, I had been taken with a great, an overwhelain I had driven I had pondered, and it had coest that in iven it is not worth while to take And out ofa new resolve So that nothing ht of Roxalanne should bring ht be tempted to override my purpose, I had deemed it well to have the restraint of a witness at our last interview To this end had I bidden Ganymede follow me into the very salon

She read the docuain to mine, and from me it shifted to Ganymede, stiff at his post by the door

"This was the best that you could do, monsieur?" she asked at last

"The very best, nify my service, but it was that or the scaffold Mada beforehim to be a traitor There was a molad, however,to just so much clemency"

"And for five years, then, I shall not see

"That need not be Though they may not come to France, it still remains possible for you to visit the--will it not?"

"Assuredly soain, and for a moment there was silence

"Will you not sit, monsieur?" said she at last She was very quiet to-day, this little maid--very quiet and very wondrously subdued

"There is scarce the need," I answered softly; whereupon her eyes were raised to ask a hundred questions "You are satisfied with my efforts, mademoiselle?" I inquired

"Yes, I am satisfied, monsieur"

That was the end, I told hed Still, I o

"You are satisfied that I--that I have fulfilled what I promised?"