“Nonsense!” he interrupted hastily. “It were little to do for the man who saved my life—and more. Besides, it was not only I.”
I looked at him with questioning eyes.
“Briquet,” he said, “did more than I. He seems to have a great interest in you. He is a strange man.”
I pondered over this for a time.
“I do not know,” I said at last. “I fancy sometimes that we have met before, and yet I cannot be certain.”
“But I have other news,” and Fronsac looked at me, his face crimson with happiness. “About Valérie and myself.”
I understood, and held out my hand to him.
“Yes,” he said, “M. le Comte has given his consent. We shall be married so soon as I can take you with me to Cadillac.”
I pressed his hand with sincere warmth.
“Then, indeed, I must hasten to get well!” I cried. “To think that I should be keeping you apart!”