"Have I the honour of addressing——" I began, for this phraseology bewildered me.
"Le Père Celestine," said Mademoiselle de Broglie; "so I am now in perfect safety, thanks to your kindness and courage, monsieur; and now permit me to offer you that reward which any soldier may accept without reproach."
She drew a ring from her finger, and placed it in my hand, saying, with a bright coquettish smile—
"There is a language of precious stones, as well as of beautiful flowers, and if learned in such matters, you will know what this gem is significant of."
The old clergyman waved his hat, and laughed with great good humour, while the graceful girl bowed to me again and again as he handed her into the dèsobligeant and shut the door. The Curé then placed his hat on his head, for the first time during our interview, and with true French gallantry sprang on the narrow footboard behind his little carriage, which was rapidly driven off, Jacquot evincing, by his lavish use of the whip, his desire to place as great a distance as possible between himself and me.
The whole affair was like a dream. I placed the ring on my smallest finger, and thought with delight of the lovely little hand from which it had just been drawn. I gave a lingering glance after the fast-retreating dèsobligeant, which was bowling along the road towards the ruined village of St. Solidore, and then, springing into my saddle, galloped in the direction of our camp, the white tents of which were shining in the rising sun, as they dotted the southern slope of the hills of Paramé.
The stone was a fine emerald.
"Of what is it significant?" thought I, remembering her words and her charming smile.
Charters, whom I met with three mounted Greys, coming in search of me, by order of the adjutant, told me that, "according to an old superstition, the emerald was supposed to ensure success in love."
Be that as it may, this gift of Jacqueline de Broglie has yet an important part to play in the story of my adventures.