“All right.  We talk ’bout dat ’noder tam.  Now, mebbe so she lak hear de lates’ news from you.  Dere’s plenty for tellin’ her—­’bout Joe McCaskey an’ all de res’.  You can spoke now, lak hones’ man.  Sapre!  Don’ you s’pose she’s waitin’ to hear you say you love her?  An’ how you goin’ mak’ big success?  By Gar!  I keeck you out dis cabin if you keep her waitin’ some more!”

With a cry, half of trepidation, half of exultance, Phillips crushed his cap upon his head.  “I—­I’ve a notion to.  I can almost say it; anyhow, I can say enough so she’ll understand.  Gad!  I will!  I just needed you to stiffen me up.”  Fiercely he wrung the woodsman’s hand, and, forgetful of all else but his new determination, moved toward the door.  “Thanks for all you’ve done for me, old man, and all you’ve offered to do.”

“Frenchman’ Hill is nice place for two nestin’ doves—­fine place for sing an’ be happy,” the other reminded him.

In a choking voice Pierce exclaimed:  “You’re a prince, Doret, and I won’t forget!  A prince!”

He was gone; the cabin door had slammed shut with a crash.  ’Poleon sank to a seat and with a long sigh bowed his head.

It was over; he had done his bit.  For a long while he remained there inert, his patient, haggard face bent, his eyes fixed upon the floor.  He felt very old, very much used up, and the labor of thinking was unbearable.  When the fire had died and a chill had crept into the room he roused himself to note that it had grown dark.  Manifestly, this would not do; there was the problem of living still to face.  Sooner or later this very evening he must go to Rouletta and pretend to a joyousness he could never again know.  That meant more smiles, more effort; it would take all he had in him to carry it off, and, meanwhile, the more he let his mind dwell upon her the more unbearable became his thoughts.  This solitude was playing tricks with him.  Enough of it!  He must get out into the lights; he must hear voices and regain the mastery of himself through contact with sane people.  Perhaps in the saloons, the restaurants, he could absorb enough laughter to make safe the mockery he purposed; perhaps it would enable him to stamp a grin upon his features.

But his impulse was futile; in spite of himself he shrank from people and hid himself unobtrusively in a corner of the first place he entered.  He was hurt, wounded, sick to death; he longed to creep away somewhere and be alone with his pain.

In order that he might the sooner be free to do so, he rose finally and slunk out upon the street.  It would soon be time for Rouletta to go to work.  He would get it over with.

Cap in hand, his heart beating heavily at the prospect of merely seeing her, he came on noiseless soles to her door.  He could hear her stirring inside, so he took a deep breath and rapped softly.

She uttered a cry when she saw him standing there; then a sudden pallor crept into her cheeks, a queer constraint enveloped her.  Nevertheless, she put both her hands in his and drew him across the threshold.  She said something which neither of them understood.