I have longed to meet you, to thank you." "And I you," said Marteau.

"You English are frank.

I shall be likewise," he added.

"It was not thus I wanted to meet you, monsieur, not in a drawing-room, in this peaceful dress, but--on the field." "I understand," said the Englishman, sobered a little by the other's seriousness.

"And if the war had continued perhaps we might have settled the--er"-- his eyes sought those of his fiancee, but she was not looking at him--"our differences," he added, "in the old knightly way, but now----" "Now it is impossible," assented Marteau, "since my Emperor and I are both defeated." "Monsieur," broke in the high, rather sharp voice of the old Marquis, "that is a title which is no longer current in France.