'You!' she reiterated, speaking very rapidly. 'Whoever you are, save Cambray ... defend her ... save her! I know that you can.'
In the look which she gave him he read something which filled his very soul with rapture. He gave her back glance for glance, worship for this trust.
'I can at any rate die for her,' he said quietly. 'If you, ma donna, will forgive.'
'Save Cambray,' she reiterated with superb confidence, 'and I'll forgive everything!'
'Then may God have you in His keeping,' he called to her. And, before she could realize what was in his purpose, he had climbed to the top of the tall balustrade, stood for one moment there high above her, silhouetted against the clear blue of the sky, like a living statue of youth and enthusiasm and springtide, animated by that faith which moveth mountains and sets out to conquer the world in order to lay it at the loved one's feet.
'Jehan!' he called. 'À moi!'
Then, swinging himself with the easy grace of perfect strength, he jumped down on to the perron below.