David turned toward her.  Her attitude was changed.  It was no longer one of proud defiance.  She had expected to defend herself from something, and he had given her no occasion for defense.  She did not try to hide the fact from him, and he nodded toward the window.

“He is going away in a canoe.  I am afraid you didn’t want me to see him, and I am sorry I happened to be here when he came.”

“I made no effort to keep him away, M’sieu David.  Perhaps I wanted you to see him.  And I thought, when you did—­” She hesitated.

“You expected me to crucify you, if necessary, to learn the truth of what he knows about Roger Audemard,” he said.  “And you were ready to fight back.  But I am not going to question you unless you give me permission.”

“I am glad,” she said in a low voice.  “I am beginning to have faith in you, M’sieu David.  You have promised not to try to escape, and I believe you.  Will you also promise not to ask me questions, which I can not answer—­until St. Pierre comes?”

“I will try.”

She came up to him slowly and stood facing him, so near that she could have reached out and put her hands on his shoulders.

“St. Pierre has told me a great deal about the Scarlet Police,” she said, looking at him quietly and steadily.  “He says that the men who wear the red jackets never play low tricks, and that they come after a man squarely and openly.  He says they are men, and many times he has told me wonderful stories of the things they have done.  He calls it ‘playing the game.’  And I’m going to ask you, M’sieu David, will you play square with me?  If I give you the freedom of the bateau, of the boats, even of the shore, will you wait for St. Pierre and play the rest of the game out with him, man to man?”

Carrigan bowed his head slightly.  “Yes, I will wait and finish the game with St. Pierre.”

He saw a quick throb come and go in her white throat, and with a sudden, impulsive movement she held out her hand to him.  For a moment he held it close.  Her little fingers tightened about his own, and the warm thrill of them set his blood leaping with the thing he was fighting down.  She was so near that he could feel the throb of her body.  For an instant she bowed her head, and the sweet perfume of her hair was in his nostrils, the lustrous beauty of it close under his lips.

Gently she withdrew her hand and stood back from him.  To Carrigan she was like a young girl now.  It was the loveliness of girlhood he saw in the flush of her face and in the gladness that was flaming unashamed in her eyes.

“I am not frightened any more,” she exclaimed, her voice trembling a bit.  “When St. Pierre comes, I shall tell him everything.  And then you may ask the questions, and he will answer.  And he will not cheat!  He will play square.  You will love St. Pierre, and you will forgive me for what happened behind the rock!”

She made a little gesture toward the door.  “Everything is free to you out there now,” she added.  “I shall tell Bateese and the others.  When we are tied up, you may go ashore.  And we will forget all that has happened, M’sieu David.  We will forget until St. Pierre comes.”