But Anastase had reached us before I had time to say, as I intended, "I know of what he is thinking." He arrested himself suddenly, with a grace that charmed from his cool demeanor, and swept off his cap involuntarily. Holding it in his hand, and raising his serious gaze, he seemed waiting for the voice of the Chevalier. But, to my surprise, he had to wait several moments, during which they both regarded each other. At last Seraphael fairly laughed. "Do you know, I had forgotten what I had to say, in contemplating you? It is what I call a musical phiz, yours." Anastase smiled slightly, and then shut up his lips; but a sort of flush tinged his cheeks, I thought. "Perhaps, Auchester, you can remind the Chevalier Seraphael." I was so irritated at this observation that I kicked the gravel and dust, but did not trust myself to speak. "Oh!" exclaimed Seraphael, quickly, "it was to request of you a favor,--a favor I should not dare to ask you unless I had heard what I heard to-day, and seen what I saw." It might have been my fancy, but it struck me that the tones were singularly at variance with the words here. A suppressed disdain breathed underneath his accent. "Sir," returned Anastase, with scarcely more warmth, "it is impossible but that I shall be ready to grant any favor in my power. I rejoice to learn that such a thing is so. I shall be much indebted if you can explain it to me at once, as I have to carry a message from Spoda to the Fräulein Cerinthia." Spoda was Maria's master for the voice. "Let us turn back, then," exclaimed Seraphael, adroitly. "I will walk with you wherever you may be going, and tell you on the way." Seraphael's "I will" was irresistible, even to Anastase. I suddenly remembered my relations, who would imagine I had gone to a star on speculation. It was too bad of me to have left them all that time. My impression that Seraphael had to treat at some length with my master, induced me to say, "Sir, I have left my brother and sister ever so long; I must run to them, I think." "Run, then," said the Chevalier; "thou certainly shouldst, and tell them what detained thee. But return to me, and bring them with thee." I conceived this could not be done, and said so. "I will come to thee, then, in perhaps half an hour. But if thou canst not wait so long, go home with thy dear friends, and I will write thee a letter." I would have given something for a letter, it is true; but I secretly resolved to wait all day rather than not see him instead, and rather than _they_ should not see him. I ran off at full speed; and it was not until I reached the sunny lawn beyond the leafy shade that I looked back. They were both in the distance, and beneath the flickering limes showed bright and dark as sunlight crossed the shadow. I watched them to the end of the avenue, and then raced on. It was well I did so, or I should have missed Davy and my sister, who, astonished at my prolonged absence, were just about to institute a search.