Lecour looked up; but it was not enough to revive him from so deep a slough.
"I must go, Baron."
"Galimatias! You shall not throw away a commission in the Bodyguard of the greatest Court in Europe. My brother-officers demand you, and you must not desert me, your friend—your friend, Germain."
Germain went over to a window and looked out, to hide the tears with which his eyes were filling. In the courtyard below a coach had stopped at one of the doors. Cyrène was entering it. Why was she brought before him just at that moment. This inopportune glimpse of her cancelled all reasoning. With fevered sight he watched her till the coach disappeared, and turning, said eagerly to de Grancey—
"Is not the Prince's consent required?"
"You agree!" Grancey cried, embracing him joyfully. "As to the Prince, comrade," said he, "the sole difficulty is that he will grant anything to anybody. We must get his signature—for which I admit it is delicate to ask him—before any other applicant."
Lecour's pulses sprang back to life.
"Could the Princess assist us?" he inquired.
"Perfect!" cried the Baron.
Germain returned to her apartment. The Abbé was handing her a paper and saying—