Yes, he did see. It was useless to reason with her. She was like a captive bird beating wild wings for freedom and wholly unable to gauge its awful desolation when won.
For the second time he had to own himself beaten. For the second time he withdrew his forces from the field.
"Well, dear, I'm sorry," was all he said, but it conveyed much.
When he quitted her presence a little later he carried with him the ring that Max had given her and a brief and piteous message to her lover that he would not try to see her again.
Max received both in grim silence, and within half an hour of so doing he had gone.
CHAPTER XVIII
ONE MAN'S LOSS
"Oh, damn!" said Noel.
He had made the remark several times before that morning, but he made it with special emphasis on this occasion in response to the news that his brother was waiting to see him.
Hot and cross from the parade-ground, he rolled off his horse and turned towards his quarters. The animal looked after him with a faint whinny of hurt surprise, and sharply Noel flung round again.