“Is th’ so, my young lad, is th’ so? I’ll teach tha better manners with a good stout stick, an’ tha do not stay tha chatter!” exclaimed Humphrey Trail, justly indignant at Raoul’s impudence. In his excitement he spoke in English entirely, so the boy, who did not understand a word of what he said, only laughed the harder. “Oh, the funny fat man, and his funny way of speaking. Come here and listen to him!” he called to the Soufflot boy, who came running up to him. Raoul had arisen to his feet, putting his hand over his face as he rocked with laughter. Humphrey made a dive at him and, catching him firmly by the arm, shook him until every tooth in his head rattled like a castanet. “I’ll teach tha to know respect for tha elders,” Humphrey cried. At that moment some one spoke close beside him and, turning, he saw so strange a person that involuntarily he took his hands from Raoul’s shoulders and stared. The newcomer, a tall man, stood bare-headed in the sunshine, his red hair falling about his grave, beautiful face. It was Dian! “Whatever the lad has done he is sorry for it, and he meant no harm. I can answer for him, I know him,” said Dian. As he spoke he turned his clear eyes full upon Raoul, who looked sheepish and embarrassed. “He’s such a funny man,” he said half apologetically, reaching down and picking up his vegetable basket, a smile still lurking about his mouth. “You have taunted him about his looks in a public place, and he does not know enough of your own tongue to answer you in kind,” Dian said quietly. Then he turned and looked Humphrey Trail full in the face, and it seemed as though at once, without any need of word or explanation, the two were friends. Dian’s smile was good to see as he held out his hand and took Humphrey Trail’s broad one. “You are a stranger, I see from your speech, and, if I mistake not, you are English. You have come to our country at a sad time.” Dian spoke slowly and Humphrey understood all that he said and answered warmly, though he still glowered over his shoulder at Raoul, who was walking off with Guy Soufflot. He continued to grin as he moved on, but he did not call out again. Humphrey and Dian were left together there, in that momentarily quiet corner of the West Barricade. “I came to see a strange country last summer. I’d saved a bit o’ gold, and I wanted a sight o’ the world. Tha comes from the farmlands thaself, an’ I mistake not.” As Humphrey answered Dian he felt his temper cool rapidly. He looked at Dian’s bronzed face and grave blue eyes, and he felt a strong desire to confide in him, to tell him the whole story, of how he had remained in Paris to help Lisle, had rescued Rosanne, and was now in a vortex of worry as to what to do next. What he did say was: “I stayed because I thought I might help. There was a lad whom I thought needed me; and so he did, but I wasn’t about the while he needed me the most!” Something of poor Humphrey’s discouragement sounded in his voice.