Yet during the day the square was gay enough. Officers in spurs clanked

across, wide capes blowing in the wind. Common soldiers bought fruit

and paper bags of fried potatoes from the booths. Countless dogs fought

under the feet of passers-by, and over all leered the sardonic face of

Jean Bart, pirate and privateer.

Sara Lee went out daily, but never far. And she practiced French with

the maid, after this fashion: "Draps de toile," said the smiling maid, putting the linen sheets on

the bed.

Sara Lee would repeat it some six times.

"Taies d'oreiller," when the pillows came. So Sara Lee called pillows

by the name of their slips from that time forward! Came a bright hour

when she rang the bell for the boy and asked for matches, which she

certainly did not need, with entire success.

On the second night Sara Lee slept badly. At two o'clock she heard a

sound in the hall, and putting on her kimono, opened the door. On a

stiff chair outside, snoring profoundly, sat Jean, fully dressed.

The light from her candle roused him and he was wide awake in an instant.

"Why, Jean!" she said. "Isn't there any place for you to sleep?"

"I am to remain here, mademoiselle," he replied in English.

"But surely--not because of me?"

"It is the captain's order," he said briefly.

"I don't understand. Why?"

"All sorts of people come to this place, mademoiselle. But few ladies.

It is best that I remain here."

She could not move him. He had remained standing while she spoke to him,

and now he yawned, striving to conceal it. Sara Lee felt very

uncomfortable, but Jean's attitude and voice alike were firm. She

thanked him and said good night, but she slept little after that.

Lying there in the darkness, a warm glow of gratitude to Henri, and a

feeling of her safety in his care, wrapped her like a mantle. She

wondered drowsily if Harvey would ever have thought of all the small

things that seemed second nature to this young Belgian officer.

She rather thought not.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024