At one end of the room stood a porcelain stove in which a fire was burning; but the large white sepulchral object seemed to chill the atmosphere more than the fire could warm it. Two high windows hung with heavy curtains faced the square in front of the house, while in the rear two other windows looked out upon the courtyard. Frau Krieger, the widow of a Prussian officer of high rank, had reserved the salon and one or two adjoining rooms for her own use, and saw with pride the remainder of her domicile turned into barracks by General von Waldenmeer and his staff. "Wait here a moment and I will tell mademoiselle," said Agatha, traversing the salon and disappearing through a door in the further side. Tournay walked to the front window and glanced out on the street. The sentinel at the porte-cochère was on the point of presenting arms to Ludwig von Waldenmeer, who rode out; and two of the general's staff officers stood smoking and chatting in front of the building. Tournay's alert ear caught the sound of light footsteps, and he turned just as Edmé crossed the threshold from the inner room. He had told himself many times within the last few minutes that the interview must be a brief one if he were to retain complete mastery over his feelings. As he approached her, his face, in spite of his efforts to control it, expressed some of the emotions which the sight of her awakened. She extended her hand to him in her graceful, natural way, and he bent over it, mechanically uttering the words he had been repeating over and over to himself. "I have come, mademoiselle, to say adieu." At this, the color which had mantled her cheek as he touched her fingers disappeared. "You have not seen General von Waldenmeer, then?" she asked quickly. "Yes, mademoiselle, and because I have seen him I intend to start at once." "General von Waldenmeer says that in less than three months' time the Prussian army will be in Paris," said Edmé. A slight smile of incredulity was Tournay's only reply. "The monarchy will be restored," she continued; "little mercy will be shown the Republicans. They will have justice meted out to them by their conquerors." "The allied armies will never reach Paris, mademoiselle, and before they restore the monarchy they must kill every Republican who stands between them and the throne." "I do not want them to kill you," she said simply. His heart beat wildly. For an instant he did not speak. When he could trust his voice to answer he said:-- "I thank you deeply for your solicitude, mademoiselle, but whatever happens I must go back to my duty." Edmé hesitated a moment, then spoke, at first with evident effort; then warming into a tone of almost passionate entreaty.