Who shall blame him if just then a desperate longing seized him to throw all prudence, all dignity and honour to the winds and to clasp this exquisite woman for one brief and happy moment in his arms--to forget the world, her position and his--to risk disgrace and betray hospitality, for the sake of one kiss upon her lips? The temptation was so fierce--indeed for one short second it was all but irresistible--that something of the battle which was raging within his soul became outwardly visible, and in the girl's tear-dimmed eyes there crept a quick look of alarm--so strange, so ununderstandable was his glance, the rigidity of his attitude--as if every muscle had become taut and every nerve strained to snapping point, while his face looked hard and lined, almost as if he were fighting physical pain. V Thus a few seconds went by in absolute silence--while the great gilt clock upon its carved bracket ticked on with stolid relentlessness, marking another minute--and yet another--of this hour which was so full of portent for the destinies of France. Clyffurde would gladly have bartered the future years of his life for the power to stay the hand of Time just now--for the power to remain just like this, standing before this beautiful woman whom he loved, feeling that at any moment he could take her in his arms and kiss her eyes and her lips, even if she were unwilling, even if she hated him for ever afterwards. The sense of power to do that which he might regret to the end of his days was infinitely sweet, the power to fight against that all-compelling passion was perhaps sweeter still. Then came the pride of victory. The habits of a lifetime had come to his aid: self-respect and self-control, hard and wilful taskmasters, fought against passion, until it yielded inch by inch. The battle was fought and won in those few moments of silence: the strain of the man's attitude relaxed, the set lines on his face vanished, leaving it serene and quietly humorous, calm and self-deprecatory. Only his voice was not quite so steady as usual, as he said softly: "Mademoiselle Crystal, is there anything that I can do for you?--now at once, I mean? If there is, I do entreat you most earnestly to let me serve you."