"The black priest has gone. Let us hope that he has been blown away into a swamp, where the fairies shall bewitch him into a frog to croak at the world for ever. Come now away. Tell me whether you had dreams in the night. But stay!" She drew away from him suddenly. "Madeleine!" he exclaimed, wondering at her changed face. "I must remove this mask," she cried in a stately fashion, frowning and placing her hands upon her sides. "Sir, who are you that you should strive to win the heart of Madeleine Labroquerie? Why, I have sworn to wed a knight, a man of title and estate, and you, a smooth-faced boy, with long hair and cheeks as pink as mine, you come and speak to me of love. Sir, how dare you thus to use an innocent maid?" She passed on ahead of her astonished lover and the trees of the grove closed round them. "Madeleine----" he began, protesting. "Madeleine," she imitated. "Here is free-speech indeed. Now, sir, stand and let me show you what you are. You are an Englishman, an adventurer, one of a small band who think themselves strong enough to attack the power of France in this new land, and you, the enemy of my people, come to me with a tale of love, believing me to be a maid of the wilds to be won and cast aside at will. Speak not to me. I will not hear you. I am no simple provincial maid that I should fall in love with a soldier's handsome face. Last night, yes, last night, after an acquaintance of but three days, you dared to own your love, and to humour you--in truth I was afraid--I confessed that I also loved you. I, a French girl, such a traitress as to love an enemy of my people! I was but fooling you. How I laughed to myself at deceiving you so readily." She laughed disdainfully and curled her lovely lip. "I fear I have already tarried here too long," was all that Geoffrey could say. "Stay one moment," cried the haughty beauty. "I should be base did I not warn you. Soldiers are waiting for you upon every side. East, west, north, and south they lie in wait for you." "There are no soldiers nearer than the fortress," said Geoffrey wildly. "You may believe so," replied the traitress. "But you have learnt little of this country if you do not know that military posts are set about from place to place. One such post is near at hand, and thither I sent our servant after your coming. Can you not perceive that I have betrayed you?" Had Geoffrey looked he might have seen her shiver as she spoke. "I thank you for your warning, but I may stay no longer," the young man said, and he stepped away with his head down. "Which way do you take?" she demanded. "I am southward bound." "You are--brave, friend." "Friend!" he exclaimed, with a sobbing note of indignation. "Would you have me trust in you again?" "I had forgot," she admitted. "Are you going now?" He moved on through the grove; but he had not made a dozen steps before she called to him. "Have you, then, no word of farewell?"