you and ask him to come in your stead if he wants to frighten me. I
am not afraid of women, you know."

"You wrong me, Monsieur; I am not his agent. I am acting purely on
my own responsibility, for myself alone. I have a personal object in
warning you, but that is neither here nor there. Let me add that I
wish you success in the undertaking which now interests you. You
must believe me, though, when I say that you are in danger.
Forewarned is forearmed. I do not know what steps are to be taken
against you; time will expose them. But I do know that you are not
to win what you seek."

"This is a very strange proceeding," began he, half-convinced of her
sincerity.

"We are nearing Le Cateau, and I must leave you. The men of whom I
speak are the Duke Laselli and a detective called Courant. I know
they are sent to watch you, and they mean you no good. Be careful,
for God's sake, Monsieur, for I--I--want you to win!" She was standing
now, and with trembling fingers was adjusting a thick veil over her
face.

"Why are you so interested in me?" he asked, sharply. "Why do you
want me to win--to win, well, to win the battle?"

"Because--" she began, but checked herself. A deep blush spread over
her face just as she dropped the veil.

"The cad!" he said, understanding coming to him like a flash. "There
is more than one heart at stake."