“I thought----” she said, about to give impulsive utterance to her new belief, when she checked herself, looked up with a smile of sweet confusion, and then again dropped her eyes. Gerard had watched her closely trying to read the perplexing changes of her manner, fearing from her constraint and silence that she was angered; but gathered hope fast when she smiled. “I would give much to know that thought,” he said, when she faltered. “You must not keep silence and run this risk for me,” she said slowly, keeping her eyes upon the ground. “Am I forgiven the deception I practised?” he whispered. “Was it not done because you deemed it best for--for all things?” She had meant to say “for me,” but the words hung on her lips so that she could not utter them. “For all things, no,” he answered pointedly, “for you, yes; for you only.” It was sweet hearing. Her heart beat fast and her bosom rose and fell quickly in agitation. But she could not look at him, could not let him see yet how deeply he had stirred her. She had passed one crisis of racking pain when she feared that she had mistaken him; and shrank now from even a chance of misjudgment. “I believe that,” she said simply after a pause. “And I am forgiven?” he pressed, eager for her to look at him, that he might read in her sweet eyes the knowledge for which his heart was hungering. “Yes.” It was a whisper, no more; and still she kept her eyes down. “And you trust me as ever?” “I may?” she questioned in a whisper. “As God is my judge you may,” he answered with intense passion. “Could I forgive if I did not trust?” “Thank God for that trust.” She smiled and was lifting her face to meet his ardent gaze, when the Governor and de Proballe returned. Neither Gerard nor Gabrielle had had eyes or ears for them in the minutes of absence; and had not noted how at first they had talked together and had then sent for the two men, Antoine de Cavannes and d’Estelle, and having questioned them, had once again conferred alone. It was de Proballe who now took the chief part, and he approached Gerard with a bland smile upon his sallow face, and said, in a smooth even tone-- “My lord has now committed this matter to my hands, Gerard, as a family affair; and I am confident it can be easily arranged.” Gerard noticed the use of his name and the familiar manner, and read in it at once some change of purpose. “I do not wish your interference, monsieur, and recognize no right of yours to take any such part.” “I am acting solely in Gabrielle’s interest. I have put it to the Duke that this matter can best be settled between us. You see, Gerard----” “What do you mean by the use of that name to me?” “Is not your name Gerard?” He put the question casually and with just the necessary accent of surprise. “You must see how equivocal the position is.” “I desire to hold no intercourse with you, monsieur,” replied Gerard coldly.