"It would have been death," she said; "for I never could have survived the ignominy of having been embraced by Yusuf. I should have slain myself at the first opportunity. Thus you have saved my life, my brave deliverer."
She turned her lovely eyes on him—eyes which beamed forth not only gratitude, but the dawn of love.
"You overwhelm me, when you talk like that," replied St. Just. "Any of my countrymen would have acted as I did. But tell me. You said but now, that your mother was a French woman; may I know her name?"
"Certainly; it was de Moncourt."
"What, of Moncourt in Brittany?"
"Yes."
"Indeed! then I have little doubt I have the honor to greet a cousin. I am a St. Just, also of Brittany."
"Truly? How delightful!"
"By what name did your mother call you?"
"Alas! it is an Arab one; I am called Halima."