"I almost have faith that he did, Mademoiselle," I answered gravely. "He was greatly changed from his first sight of her face, though he was a difficult man to gauge in such matters. There was a time when I believed him in love with you."
She tossed her head.
"Nay," she answered, "he merely thought he was, because he found me hard to understand and difficult of conquest; but 't was little more than his own vanity that drew him hither. I trust it may be the deeper feeling that has taken him back now in face of death to Marie."
"You have indeed proved hard to understand by more than one," I ventured, for in spite of her graciousness the old wound rankled. "It has puzzled me much to understand how you so gaily sent me forth to a mission that might mean death, to save this Captain de Croix."
It was a foolish speech, and she met it bravely, with heightened color and a flash of dark eyes.
"'T was no more than the sudden whim of a girl," she answered quickly, "and regretted before you were out of sight. Nor did I dream you would meet my conditions by such a sacrifice."
"You showed small interest as you stood on the stockade when we went forth!"
"You mean when Captain de Croix and I leaned above the eastern palisades?"
"Ay, not once did your eyes wander to mark our progress."
Her eyes were smiling now, and her face archly uplifted.