She did not answer, but stretched out her hand to him. He took it, and dropping on one knee, put it to his lips. "It is for the last time," he said, looking up at her. His face was deadly pale, and there was a look of pleading in his brown eyes.
She placed her other hand upon his head. It was but the slightest touch, as if she yielded to a sudden impulse, and then with the same swift movement she drew away from him.
"As it must be, I pray you to go quickly," she said, and without waiting for a reply she turned and left him.
Tournay rose to his feet,—"I swear to you now, mademoiselle, that some day I shall see you again," and he rushed from the room to the courtyard below.
"Are the horses ready?" he whispered hoarsely, grasping Gaillard by the arm.
"At the door with an escort of Prussian officers," was the reply.
"What time is it?"
"Three hours before dark."
"We must be over the frontier and well into France by to-night," was Tournay's rejoinder. "Come!"
Standing by the window, Edmé saw him leap into the saddle. He gave one look in her direction, but could not see her, concealed as she was by the heavy curtains.