'Ha! my brother? What of him? What of him, sir?'
'For him, Mademoiselle--I would prefer that you should tell me no
more than I know already,' I answered in a low voice. 'I do not
wish to be in that affair. But yes; there is one thing I have
not mentioned. You are right.'
She sighed so deeply that I caught the sound.
'It is,' I continued slowly, 'that you will permit me to remain
at Cocheforet for a few days while the soldiers are here. I am
told that there are twenty men and two officers quartered in your
house. Your brother is away. I ask to be permitted,
Mademoiselle, to take his place for the time, and to be
privileged to protect your sister and yourself from insult. That
is all.'
She raised her hand to her head. After a long pause,--
'The frogs!' she muttered, 'they croak! I can not hear.'
Then, to my surprise, she turned quickly and suddenly on her
heel, and walked over the bridge, leaving me standing there. For
a moment I stood aghast, peering after her shadowy figure, and
wondering what had taken her. Then, in a minute or less, she
came quickly back to me, and I understood.
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