His hand closed tightly upon hers with a quick, restraining pressure.  He could not answer her.

For some seconds he did not speak at all.  At length, “Then—­you trust me still, Christine?” he said, his voice very low.

Her reply was instant and unfaltering.  “I shall trust you as long as I live.”

He was silent again for a space.  Then suddenly he uncovered his face and looked at her.  Again their eyes met, with the perfect intimacy of a perfect understanding.

“Eh bien,” Bertrand said, speaking slowly and heavily, as one labouring under an immense burden, “I will be worthy of your confidence.  You are right, little comrade.  We have travelled too far together—­you and I—­to fear to strike upon the rocks now.”

He paused a moment, then quietly rose, drawing her to her feet.  So for a while he stood, her hands clasped in his, seeming still upon the verge of speech, but finding no words.  His eyes smiled sadly upon her, as the eyes of a friend saying good-bye.  At last he stooped, and reverently as though he sealed an oath thereby, he pressed his lips upon the hands he held.

An instant later he straightened himself, and in unbroken silence turned and left her.

It was one of the simplest tragedies ever played on the world’s stage.  They had found each other—­too late, and there was nothing more to be said.

CHAPTER III

THE TURN OF THE TIDE

It was evening when Mordaunt returned on the following day.  He was met at the station by Noel.  Holmes was in charge of the motor, and greeted his master with obvious relief.  The care of the youngest Wyndham was plainly a responsibility he did not care to shoulder for long.

“All well?” Mordaunt asked, as he emerged from the station with his young brother-in-law hooked effusively on his arm.

“All well, sir,” said Holmes, with the air of a sentry relaxing after long and arduous duty.

“Flourishing,” said Noel, “though it’s the greatest wonder you haven’t come back to find Chris a heap of ashes.  She would have been if Bertrand hadn’t—­at great personal risk—­put her out.”

“What has happened?” demanded Mordaunt sharply.

“All’s well, sir,” said Holmes reassuringly.

“Fireworks!” explained Noel.  “My word, I made some beauties!  I wish you could have seen ’em.  I got singed a bit myself.  But, then, that’s only what one would expect playing with fire, eh, Trevor?” He rubbed his cheek ingratiatingly against Mordaunt’s shoulder.  “You needn’t be anxious.  Chris was really none the worse.  But the Frenchman had a bad attack of blue funk when the danger was over, and nearly fainted.  He’s feeling ashamed of himself apparently, for I haven’t seen him since.  By the way, Aunt Phil and Chris had a mill yesterday, and the old lady is suffering from a very stiff neck in consequence.  I asked Chris what she did to it, but she wouldn’t tell me.  Thank the gods, she goes to-morrow!  You’ll let me drive her to the station, won’t you?  I should like to go to heaven in Aunt Phil’s company.  She would be sure to get into the smartest set at once.”