Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 211: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

French girl of my story finds in her secretary the friend and adviser she so sorely needs! ” As the countess finished her tale, which Cottrell had early guessed was the narrative of her own life, she stood up and looked at the young man with eyes that searched his face as a prisoner at the bar will scan the face of the judge for some sign of hope. The sad cadence of her voice and the quiet dignity of her manner had inex- pressibly touched the heart of the handsome young American. He did not stop to reason, but instinctively he felt that all the countess had told him was true. And then, overcome by the glamour of his strange sur- roundings, transferred in two days from the prosaicness of modern London to all the romantic atmosphere of the middle ages, he stepped forward and dropping on’one knee before the erect, stately figure of the young girl, he took her soft little hand in his and kissed it reverently. “There, my countess! ” he said, smiling brightly up at her, “ I have taken the oath of allegiance; I am now the queen’s bodyguard, and in life unto death vou will find me ever faithful! ”’ The face of Marie de Villiers grew rosy; her lips trembled, and the tears glistened in her eyes. ‘“ Monsieur,” she said, in a broken voice, “ you have made me so happy! ” My readers may smile cynically to themselves over this little scene, as having a touch of the theatric, but young and ardent people, under the stress of great emotion, will often do things that, viewed in the light of calm after days, will seem both foolish and far fetched. Jean had been a passive spectator of the touching little scene, but he now gave an apologetic cough and reminded the countéss that it was getting late, and that the chateau would soon be bolted and barred for the night. ‘““ Ah, yes, Jean, you are right!” she replied. “I will go at once. ‘He is my one faithful subject!” she added, turning to Cottrell with a pathetic little smile. ‘“‘ He and my protégée, Anne, are all I dare confide in. So I warn you that in allying yourself with my small band, you will be fight- ing against desperate odds, as opposed to the marquis, my uncle! ” ‘“T would not change sides if there were a thousand marquises!” he re- torted, smiling valiantly back at her. And so they parted ; for it was decided that Cottrell should spend the night in Jean’s cottage and present himself at the chateau next morning, in the character of the secretary. In their necessarily brief and hurried interview Henry had not found occa- sion to mention to the countess his adventure in the railway carriage, nor, in- deed, had it even entered his mind to do so, so completely was that incident overshadowed by the events of the last hour. CHAPTER V.—THE TALL LIEUTENANT AGAIN. Tue Chateau de Frenoir stands on quite an eminence, with a fine sweep of lawn (cut up by walks and fountains all laid out in the stiff French way) rolling gradually up towards it. GONG OOO UN ceo