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She was silent for a while, leaning on the table, tracing with her finger the outline of her dull reflection in the shining surface Presently she looked up gaily, a s in her eyes

"All that I said is false I desire to live, Carus I a!"

I drew the paper to me, dipped a quill full of ink froan, dating the letter fro it most respectfully to Sir Peter and Lady Coleville

First I spoke of the horses we had taken, and would have pro over my shoulder, stayed uineas?" she demanded "That was to pay for our stable theft!"

"But not for the horse I took?"

"Certainly, for your horse, too"

"But you could not know that I was to ride saddle to the Coq d'Or!" I insisted

"No, but I saddled two horses," she replied, delighted at my wonder, "two horses, monsieur, one of which stood ready in the stalls of the Coq d'Or! So when you came a-horseback, it was not necessary to use the spare allop Now do you see, Mr Renault? All this I did for you, inspired by--foresight, which you lack!"

"I see that you are as wise and witty as you are beautiful!" I exclaiers to kiss the me to write further, and make suitable excuse for what had happened

"It is not best to confess that we are still unwedded," I said, perplexed

"No They suppose we are; let be as it is," she answered "And you shall not say that you were a spy, either, for that must only pain Sir Peter and his lady They will never believe Walter Butler, for they think I fled with you because I could not endure hie smile colored her eyes to deepest azure

"Then what rehtfully

"Say we are happy, Carus"

"Are you?"

"Truly I am, spite of all I complain of Write it!"

I wrote that ere happy; and, as I traced the words, a curious thrill set

"And that we love--them"

I wrote it slowly, half-minded to write "one another" instead of "them" Never had I been so near to love

"And--and--let er on lip--"I think it not too ih Destiny fight against it; and if it does, why there we have their blessing all ready!"