She touched his arm and said gently: "Some are hurt in one way and some in another; all are hurt some time, but—"
"You shall have your way," he interrupted, and moved apart.
"Ah, Monsieur, Monsieur, it is a noble act!—" she hurriedly rejoined, then with a sudden cry rushed towards him, for he was lighting the will at the flame of a candle near him.
"But no, no, no, you shall not do it," she cried. "I only asked it for while he lives—ah!"
She collapsed with a cry of despair, for he had held the flaming paper above her reach, and its ashes were now scattering on the floor.
"You will let me give you some wine?" he said quietly, and poured out a glassful.
CHAPTER IX
THE BITER BITTEN
Madelinette was faint, and, sitting down, she drank the wine feebly, then leaned her head against the back of the chair, her face turned from Fournel.
"Forgive me, if you can," he said. "You have this to comfort you, that if friendship is a boon in this world you have an honest friend in George Fournel."