"Away from your husband? How could he, madame?"
She stirred, and turned her face from me, even though I could not see it in the dark.
"But he has a warrant," she whispered. "The letter said that you must deliver me to my cousin if we were found. What will be done with you, monsieur, if you refuse to obey?"
Then I bent close and let her hear me laugh softly.
"I know of no warrant that applies to you," I murmured. "Cadillac's letter mentioned an Englishman. I know of none such. I travel with a woman, my wife, and commandants have naught to do with us. Was that what was troubling you, madame?"
She bowed, and her breath came unevenly. Her right hand lay outside the blanket, and I bent and touched it with my lips.
"How you hate Lord Starling! How you hate him!" I whispered. "I wonder, can you love as singly? Can you love with as little care for self and comfort and for all the fat conveniences of life? Madame, you are a willful child to lie here and tilt at shadows when you should be garnering strength by sleep. I promised you my sword and my name, and I agreed that they should both be yours till of your own wish you should send me away. Had you forgotten that I promised? I had not."
I had slipped to my knees again and rested with my forehead on her hand. I could feel her other hand stray toward me.
"No," she whispered. "No, I had not forgotten, but the dark and a sudden loneliness made me a coward. Thank you. It is over now and I will sleep. Monsieur, my partner, I will say good-night, and this time I will not call you."
But I rested a moment longer on my knees with my head against her palm.
Then I rose.