“I wonder what we ought to be doing when they come. I fear my heart is beating rather wildly.” “Fitting its beats to the occasion, that’s all. As to what we should do, can’t you find a suggestion out of your experience?” “Cannot you?” “I think we ought to be making love--Gabrielle. That’s what Gerard would be doing, I expect.” “We’re doing one thing that’s right, at any rate. We’re talking nonsense--Gerard.” “Well, I think we ought to play our parts thoroughly.” “Do you treat everything as a jest?” “Not when I’m Gerard to your Gabrielle. It’s a part I could play in real earnest.” “I think Gerard is an extremely ridiculous person.” “And I think Gabrielle a very charming--coquette.” “I wish they would come, and get it over. I’m a sad coward, and am getting more frightened every minute.” “Ah, you’re anxious to break the engagement. You’ll break your Gerard’s heart.” He was listening intently for the coming of the soldiers, and jested merely that he might distract her thoughts and keep up her spirits. “It will be awkward, by the way, if the officer in charge happens to be--another of them.” “You seem to think the list a long one,” she retorted with a shrug. “Let me see. To begin with”--and he made as if to tell them off on his fingers. “Never mind, thank you. I can count for myself.” “Your eyes make me almost wish I could count myself,” he laughed. “If my eyes were speaking my thoughts----” “Well?” he asked, for she stopped. “They would be asking how many hands would be needed to count--my Gerard’s.” “Oh, my hands have long been full. Wait. I hear them,” he broke off, in the midst of a laugh. “You had better be in my arms and, when the door opens, break away and utter my name--I mean Gerard; and then act as though it was what it will be--a mistake.” The tramp of men entering the house was heard, and he put his arm round her. “Look sad,” he whispered hurriedly. “For God’s sake, don’t smile like that.” “Oughtn’t I to like to have your arm round me? You are very clumsy about it, you know--Gerard. One might think you had had no practice.” “You seem to know how things should be done,” he laughed. “My heart is beating like a wild thing.” At this moment a heavy hand was thrust against the door, which was flung open, and the soldiers entered. “Gerard!” cried Lucette, “look, look, the soldiers,” and then staring wildly at the men, she clapped her hand to her lips and with a cry of fear fell into a seat. “Courage, Gabrielle, it is nothing,” he whispered, in a tone loud enough to be heard, and bent for a moment over her as if in deep concern. Then he turned to the men. “What does this mean?” he demanded angrily. With intense satisfaction he recognized two of his own men among the five who were in charge of a sergeant, and he shot at them a warning look. “It means that we’re in luck, monsieur, I think. You must come with us.” “Come with you? Why? Cannot an honest merchant be about his business without you soldiers hunting him?”