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318 "If my eyes were speaking my thoughts"

"Well?" he asked, for she stopped.

"They would be asking how many hands would be needed to count—my Gerard's."

"Oh, my hands have long been full. Wait. I hear them," he broke off, in the midst of a laugh. "You had better be in my arms and, when the door opens, break away and utter my name—I mean Gerard; and then act as though it was what it will be—a mistake."

The tramp of men entering the house was heard, and he put his arm round her.

"Look sad," he whispered hurriedly. "For God's sake, don't smile like that."

"Oughtn't I to like to have your arm round me? You are very clumsy about it, you know—Gerard. One might think you had had no practice."

"You seem to know how things should be done," he laughed.

"My heart is beating like a wild thing."

At this moment a heavy hand was thrust against the door, which was flung open, and the soldiers entered.

"Gerard!" cried Lucette, "look, look, the soldiers," and then staring wildly at the men, she clapped her hand to her lips and with a cry of fear fell into a seat.

"Courage, Gabrielle, it is nothing," he whispered, in a tone loud enough to be heard, and bent for a moment over her as if in deep concern. Then he turned to the men. "What does this mean?" he demanded angrily. With intense satisfaction he recognized two of his own men among the five who were in charge of a sergeant, and he shot at them a warning look.

"It means that we're in luck, monsieur, I think. You must come with us."

"Come with you? Why? Cannot an honest merchant be about his business without you soldiers hunting him?"