first farewell. He still did not know the French custom, but, bending
over suddenly, he kissed the still smooth and handsome hand of Madame
Lannes. As she flushed and looked pleased, he judged that he had made no
mistake. Then he touched lightly the hand of the young girl, and said:

"Mademoiselle Julie, I hope to return soon to this house with your
brother."

"May it be so," she said, in a voice that trembled, "and may you come
back to a Paris still French!"

John bowed to them both and with tact and delicacy withdrew from the
room. He felt that there should be no witness of Philip's farewell to
his mother and sister, before going on a journey from which the chances
were that he would never return.

He strolled down the hall, pretending to look at an old picture or two,
and in a few minutes Lannes came out and joined him. John saw tears in
his eyes, but his face was set and stern. Neither spoke until they
reached the front door, which the giant, Picard, opened for them.

"If the worst should happen, Antoine," said Lannes, "and you must be the
judge of it when it comes, take them to Lyons, to our cousins the
Menards."

"I answer with my life," said the man, shutting together his great
teeth, and John felt that it was well for the two women to have such a
guardian. Under impulse, he said:

"I should like to shake the hand of a man who is worth two of most men."