Madame le Pont broke a bunch of grapes on her plate and ate one slowly. “We must hope for the best,” she said and they all laughed. “You always say that Le Pont, darling, you know.” Marie Josephine put her hand caressingly on the governess’s arm as she spoke. “I threw pennies to the hovel children outside the gates as Denise and I rode through the demesne. It was fun to see them grabbing in the dust for them. One of them, a tall, lanky boy, fairly wallowed in dust! I tell you, Madame, I laughed to see them, and wished I had more pennies for them,” Bertran said to the governess. “There is no town where they can buy things, but when the bailiff comes to oversee, he will give them bread if they have money, poor things,” Madame le Pont answered. Marie Josephine sat silently looking up at the stars for a moment. It was Grigge of whom Bertran had spoken, Grigge who was Jean’s cousin. Martin had poured some sparkling yellow wine into the tall, thin glasses and Bertran stood up suddenly. “To His Majesty, King Louis of France,” he said. The others rose to their feet and said, “His Majesty the King.” Then they drank a little of the wine and sat down again. They did not see that some one was coming slowly from the dark shrubbery at the side of the terrace. Martin saw him first and dropped a dish of apricots. Then the children and Madame le Pont all saw him at once, as he came up to the table. He was a bearded man in ragged clothes, a red cap on his head. They all sat perfectly still watching him, not one of them cried out. It was Bertran who spoke first. He stood up and faced the man. “Who are you and what do you want?” The man did not answer and Bertran said: “Leave the presence of the ladies at once or I shall call the men on the place.” Bertran was frightened, but did his best to make his voice manly and convincing. Suddenly Marie Josephine jumped up from the table, and ran up to the stranger. “Why, don’t you know him? It’s Neville!” she cried. There was a half sob in her voice. Neville had come back. How was it that the others had not recognized him? She had known him by his eyes at once. He spoke and then they all knew him. Bowing to the governess, he said: “Your pardon, Madame, but unless I came in this disguise there was no way for me to come at all. I did not change before seeing you because it is best that you note well my disguise so that you will all know me again.” His voice trembled and he sank on to a chair which old Martin pushed forward. “Martin, bread and hot soup at once! The man is famished and exhausted. Bertran, pour some wine. There, that is well.” The governess came to Neville’s side and held the wine to his lips. [Illustration: Bertran] Martin went for food and the others, filled with concern and interest, came up close to Neville. When he could speak, Neville looked at Madame le Pont and said faintly: “I would see you alone, Madame!” Then it seemed as though they all spoke at once, crowding up to his chair.