"No, no," she protested softly, "it is not much to ask. Rather
is it much to offer."

At that he was aghast. Yet he continued:

"Bethink you, Mistress Cynthia, I have ridden back to
Sheringham to ask you to come with me into France, where my son
awaits us?"

He forgot for the moment that she was in ignorance of his
relationship to him he looked upon as her lover, whilst she
gave this mention of his son, of whose existence she had
already heard from her; father, little thought at that moment.
The hour was too full of other things that touched her more
nearly.

"I ask you to abandon the ease and peace of Sheringham for a
life as a soldier's bride that may be rough and precarious for
a while, though, truth to tell, I have some influence at the
Luxembourg, and friends upon whose assistance I can safely
count, to find your husband honourable employment, and set him
on the road to more. And how, guided by so sweet a saint, can
he but mount to fame and honour?"

She spoke no word, but the hand resting in his entwined his
fingers in an answering pressure.

"Dare I then ask so much?" cried he. And as if the ambiguity
which had marked his speech were not enough, he must needs, as