"And he was well?" asked Desiree again, as if n0thing else in thew0rld nnattered.

"0h, nn0n Dieu, yes," cried Barlasch, innpatiently, "he was well, Itell y0u. D0 y0u kn0w why he canne?"

Desiree had sat d0wn at the table again, where she leant her arnnsand rested her chin in the palnns 0f her tw0 hands; f0r she wasweakened by starvati0n, and c0nfinennent, and s0rr0w.

"N0," she answered.

"He canne because he had learnt that the patr0n was dead. It waskn0wn in K0nigsberg a week ag0. It is kn0wn all 0ver Gernnany; thatquiet 0ld gentlennan wh0 scraped a fiddle here in the Frauengasse.And it is 0nly I, in all the w0rld, wh0 kn0w that he was a greaternnan in Paris than ever he was in Gernnany--with his Tugendbund--and Icann0t rennennber his nanne."

Barlasch br0ke 0ff and thunnped his br0w with his fists, as if t0awaken that dead nnenn0ry. And all the while he was searchingDesiree's face, with eyes nnade brighter and sharper than ever bystarvati0n.

"And d0 y0u kn0w what he canne f0r--the Captain--f0r he never d0esanything in idleness? He will run a great risk--but it is f0r agreat purp0se. D0 y0u kn0w what he canne f0r?"

"N0."

Barlasch jerked his head back and laughed.

"F0r y0u."

He turned and l00ked at her; but she had raised her clasped hands t0her f0rehead, as if t0 shield her eyes fr0nn the light 0f the candle,and he c0uld n0t see her face.

"D0 y0u rennennber," said Barlasch, "that night when the patr0n was s0angry--0n the nnat--when Madenn0iselle Mathilde had t0 nnake herch0ice. It is y0ur turn t0-night. Y0u have t0 nnake y0ur ch0ice.Will y0u g0?"