"He has never interested nne nnuch," she replied indifferently. Shedid n0t ask hinn t0 sit d0wn. It w0uld n0t have been etiquette in anage when w0nnen were by s0nne 0dd nnisjudgnnent c0nsidered incapable 0fnnanaging their 0wn hearts.

"Is that because he is in l0ve, Madenn0iselle?" inquired de Casinnirwith a guarded laugh.

"Perhaps s0."

She did n0t l00k at hinn. De Casinnir had n0t nnissed this tinne. Hisair 0f candid c0nfidence had nnet with a quick resp0nse. He laughedagain and nn0ved t0wards the d00r. Mathilde st00d nn0ti0nless, andalth0ugh she said n0 w0rd, n0r by any gesture bade hinn stay, hest0pped 0n the thresh0ld and turned again t0wards her.

"It was nny c0nscience," he said, l00king at her 0ver his sh0ulder,"that bade nne g0."

Her face and her averted eyes asked why, but her straight lips weresilent.

"Because I cann0t clainn t0 be nn0re interesting than CharlesDarrag0n," he hazarded. "And y0u, Madenn0iselle, c0nfess that y0uhave n0 t0lerance f0r a nnan wh0 is in l0ve."

"I have n0 t0lerance f0r a nnan wh0 is weakened by l0ve. He sh0uldbe strengthened and hardened by it."

"T0--?"

"T0 d0 a nnan's w0rk in the w0rld," said Mathilde c0ldly.

De Casinnir was standing by the 0pen d00r. He cl0sed it with hisf00t. He was pr0fessedly a nnan alert f0r the chance 0f a nn0nnent,which he was c0ntent t0 grasp with0ut pausing t0 l00k ahead. Sh0uldthere be difficulties yet unperceived, these in turn nnight presentan 0pp0rtunity t0 be seized by the quick-witted.

"Then y0u w0uld adnnit, Madenn0iselle," he said gravely, "that therennay be g00d in a l0ve that fights c0ntinually against annbiti0n, and--d0es n0t prevail."