“That was the master against whose cuirass you broke your sword, M. de Marsan,” remarked Duval, and then as he met my inquiring glance he added, “Believe me, I appreciate your courtesy, Monsieur, in keeping back the questions which must be on your lips; but ’tis a matter you are ignorant of, even were I at liberty to explain it. And now I must ask you to leave us, for we have much to do.” “We will meet again,” I said earnestly as I took his hand. But he merely shook his head. “Claire will accompany you to the street,” he said, and turned away to his disordered desk. I followed her without a word along the hallway and down the dark stair; but at the foot I caught her hand and held it. “Can it be, Mademoiselle,” I asked, “that this is adieu? Surely you do not believe so!” “I fear I must believe so, Monsieur,” she answered softly. “Only I wish myself to thank you for your gallantry and courage. They were given to a good cause.” “And will be given again to the same cause!” I cried. “I warn you, Mademoiselle, that I shall not submit so tamely to this decree of separation.” She pressed my fingers gently and withdrew her hand. “Come,” she said, “I must return,” and she went on across the little court and to the gate, which still hung open as we had left it. “Adieu, Monsieur,” she added, and held out her hand again. I raised it to my lips and kissed it. “It is not adieu,” I said. “I will not have it so. I shall see you again many times,” but as I looked into her eyes I felt my certainty slipping from me, and with it my self-control. Perhaps she read my thought, for she drew her hand away and made ready to close the gate. “Adieu, Monsieur,” she repeated, and I saw that her eyes were bright with tears. I sprang to her and caught both her hands in mine. “But, Claire,” I cried, “at least, tell me that you are sorry; tell me that you care; tell me that you would not have it so!” She looked up into my face and her lips were quivering. “I have had many disappointments,” she said. “One more will matter little. You must go, Monsieur. To detain me here is to endanger both of us.” “As you will,” I said, a little bitterly, and I dropped her hands and turned to the gate. “Only in this, Mademoiselle, you shall not be disappointed. I swear it. Au revoir.” I stepped through to the street and turned with bared head and trembling hands for a last glimpse of her. For an instant she held the gate half open and gazed into my eyes. Then she shut it fast, the bar dropped into place, and I heard her footsteps slowly cross the court. CHAPTER II I WALKED INTO A HORNETS’ NEST