"You are too good," he murmured. "Thank you. Pitchouné will thank you." 

 He kissed her hand. That was all. 

 From within the salon came the noise of voices, and the bow of the violoncellist was beginning a new concerto. They stood looking at each other. No condition could have prevented it although the Marquise d'Esclignac was rolling toward them across the polished floor of the music-room. As though Sabron realized that he might never see this lovely young woman again, probably never would see her, and wanted before he left to have something made clear, he asked quickly: 

 "Could you, Mademoiselle, in a word or two tell me the meaning of the English song you sang?" 

 She flushed and laughed slightly. 

 "Well, it is not very easy to put it in prose," she hesitated.  "Things sound so differently in music and poetry; but it means," she said in French, bravely, "why, it is a sort of prayer that some one you love very much should be kept safe night and day. That's about all. There is a little sadness in it, as though," and her cheeks glowed, "as if there was a sort of separation. It means..." 

 "Ah!" breathed the officer deeply, "I understand. Thank you." 

 And just then Madame d'Esclignac rolled up between them and with an unmistakable satisfaction presented to her niece the gentleman she had secured. 

 "My dear Julia, my godson, the Duc de Tremont."  And Sabron bowed to both the ladies, to the duke, and went away. 

 This was the picture he might add to his collection: the older woman in her vivid dress, Julia in her simpler gown, and the titled Frenchman bowing over her hand. 

 When he went out to the front terrace Brunet was there with his horse, and Pitchouné was there as well, stiffly waiting at attention. 

 "Brunet," said the officer to his man, "will you take Pitchouné around to the servants' quarters and give him to Miss Redmond's maid? I am going to leave him here." 

 "Good, mon Capitaine," said the ordonnance, and whistled to the dog. 

 Pitchouné sprang toward his master with a short sharp bark. What he understood would be hard to say, but all that he wanted to do was to remain with Sabron. Sabron bent down and stroked him. 

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