The owner of these eyes had been observant of him from the moment that he had run forward, drawn by the rattle of the drums; and now, as if in acceptance of an anticipated opportunity, he forced a way through the knot of people and, pausing behind the boy, addressed him in an easy, familiar voice, as one friend might address another.

“Isn’t it odd,” he said, “to look at those insignificant creatures, and to think that the soldiers of France have kissed the women and thrashed the men the world over?”

Had a gun been discharged close to his car the boy could not have started more violently.  Fear leaped into his eyes, he wheeled round; then a sharp, nervous laugh of relief escaped him.

“How you frightened me!” he exclaimed.  “Oh, how you frightened me!” Then he laughed again.

His travelling companion of the night before smiled down on him from his superior height, and the boy noted for the first time that this smile had a peculiarly attractive way of communicating itself from the clean-shaven lips to the grayish-green eyes of the stranger, banishing the slightly satirical look that marked his face in repose.

“Well?” The Irishman was still studying him.

“Well?  We’re all on the knees of the gods, you see!  ’Twas written that we were to meet; you can’t avoid me.”

The flag had been carried past; the boy replaced his hat, glad of a moment in which to collect his thoughts.  What must he do?  The question beat in his brain.  Wisdom whispered avoidance of this stranger.  To-day was the first day; was it wise to bring into it anything from yesterday?  No, it was not wise—­reason upheld wisdom.  He pulled his hat into place, his lips came together in an obstinate line, and he raised his eyes.

The sun was dancing on a silvery world, from the rue de Rivoli the fifes and drums still rattled out their march, close beside him the Irishman was looking at him with his pleasant smile.

Suddenly, as a daring horseman might give rein to a young horse, rejoicing in the risk, the boy discarded wisdom and its whispering curb; his nature leaped forth in sudden comradeship, and impulsively he held out his hand.

“Monsieur, forgive me!” he said.  “The gods know best!”

He said the words in English, perfectly, easily, with that faintest of all foreign intonations—­the intonation that clings to the Russian voice.

CHAPTER V

So the step was taken, and two souls, drawn together from different countries, different races, touched in a first subtle fusion.  With an ease kindled by the fine and stinging air, stimulated by the crisp summons of the flutes and the martial rattle of the drums, they bridged the thousand preliminaries that usually hedge a friendship, and arrived in a moment of intuition at that consciousness of fellowship that is the most divine of human gifts.