“Nothing, nothing now,” she cried joyfully, moving a little closer to him so that her shoulder was against his. “Chide me if I seem too persistent. I have had so much of my own way in my life that I must be getting self-willed, I think. But don’t make the chiding too harsh, Gerard. And do not keep me too long with this secret between us; I think I shall grow jealous of it. And--another condition,” she laughed: “Do not tell any one before you tell me. I could not bear that.” “You are even harder to resist when you yield, Gabrielle, than when you plead, I fear.” “Am I? Then I will yield that I may plead. But I will wait your time. Of course I will. It is such delight to me to find you what you are, that all else is nothing. Besides, it is the first request you have made to me, and I should be a churl to refuse it. I did not think of that, and could be angry with myself for having forgotten it. I would not hear you now, if you were to offer to tell me.” Her laugh at this was as that of a child in its pure delight. “I am almost constrained to tempt you,” he said, laughing in his turn. “Nay, I have put my curiosity away--about that, but I have plenty left about you and your life and all you have done to change you from that boy Gerard whom I knew.” “I am very different from him, I trust. I have been a soldier since the time I was big enough to shoulder a musket.” “And have fought? Tell me, tell me. Where and with whom? I love to hear of brave deeds. I am a soldier’s daughter, you know.” “I have been a courier of fortune, as all younger sons must be, and have carried arms under the Bourbons.” “We Malincourts, too, claim to be of the Bourbon blood; but--how do you mean--a younger son? I had not heard you had ever a brother, Gerard.” “All soldiers have brothers-in-arms,” he replied, hastily, and with some confusion. “I have had my own way to push--to prove that I was worthy to lead.” “Yes, yes. And you have proved that long since, I am confident. But tell me of the fighting. Oh, I would that I had been a man to bear my part as a soldier!” “That had been hard on me, Gabrielle.” “True enough, too. And for that I am glad I am only a woman,” she said, gently, nestling yet closer to him. And having thus led her on to the safe topic of his career as a soldier, he told her many of his experiences. She listened eagerly to his story, hanging on his words in rare delight, until he broke off, remembering that he was to see the Governor that night. “I am forgetting--I could forget all in your company. But M. de Proballe has arranged that I see the Duke to-night. I had best seek him.” “You must be careful with the Governor, Gerard.” “Why? I do not fear him.” “He is all-powerful here in Morvaix. You saw what passed in the market place yesterday. He is a man of iron.” “Yet what harm can he do me?”