"Monsieur," said the American girl boldly, "would you leave me a moment with him? I think he wants to speak with me alone."
But the Duc de Tremont exclaimed in surprise:
"To speak with you alone, Mademoiselle! Why should he? Such a thing is not possible!"
"Don't go far," she begged, "but leave us a moment, I pray."
When Tremont, with great hesitation, took a few steps away from them and she stood face to face with the creature who had been with Sabron and seen him fall, she said earnestly:
"Now speak without reserve. Tell me everything."
The face of the man was transformed. He became human, devoted, ardent.
"Excellency," he said swiftly in his halting French, "I loved Monsieur le Capitaine. He was so kind and such a brave soldier. I want to go to find Monsieur le Capitaine, but I am ill and too weak to walk. I believe I know where he is hid—I want to go."
The girl breathed:
"Oh, can it be possible that what you say is true, Hammet Abou? Would you really go if you could?"