"I didn't hope to be, I will try to be worthy of the honour."
The girl's eyes shone with wonder.
"You love and laugh in the same breath," she asserted.
Villon made a deprecatory gesture with his hands, half in protest, half in approval.
"That is my philosophy."
This view of life seemed to astonish her not a little. She caught her breath for a moment, then suddenly glided close to him.
"If you wish," she said in an even whisper, "you may kiss me once."
All the blood in the man's heart seemed to turn to fire and flame into his face as he turned towards her, making as if he would take her face in his hands and seal his soul upon her mouth. Then he sharply flung himself away from her.
"Nay, I can fight and if needs must die in your quarrel, but if once I touched your lips—that would make life too sweet to adventure."
The woman's face had flushed a little at her offer: it now paled again.
"As you will," she said, and as she spoke there came the noise of shouting, singing and trampling feet outside. The poet dropped in a moment from
