Scaramouche

oned the people of Nantes to arms, he desired as far as possible to conceal the fact that he had been in that maritime city. Therefore he made a wide detour, crossing the river at Bruz, and

s him. But it was not until they had come within a few yards of each other, and he observed that this cloaked figure was leaning

u, Andre

to be assailed by another questi

have yo

Cousin Aline? Oh . .

Gavrillac this morning in quest of you. They turned the chateau and the village inside out, and at last discovered that you were due to return with a horse hired from the

ld have been the cause of s

hat. It is no

portant part of what you tell me. I

asked him, with increasing impatience. "You are wanted f

ness at Nantes. It was impossible they could have had ne

of that wicked speech of yo

r, had she been more attentive, that he had to fear the consequenc

thi

een misunderstood. Most probably they have come to thank me on M. de Lesdiguieres' behal

your work. You drew back at the last moment. But you said things of M. de

re–Louis, and he

t thinking was necessary, and her alert you

se, and let me take it. I will stable it at the chateau to-night. And sometime to-mo

that is i

sible?

that you haven't considered what will

that pack of oafs sent by M. Lesdigu

ve aid to one who is wanted fo

? Do you imagine that the l

eltered by one of the abuses I compl

Her voice was vibrant with earnestness. "Andre, you don't realize how serious is your position. If these people take you, it is almost certain that you will be hanged. Don't you realize it? You must no

id Andre–Louis. "M. de Kercadiou has

d'Azyr," she reminded

gainst him that I aroused the resentment of the people of Rennes

at part of it a

ther of the law or of the people? Or is it, perhaps, that since you have seen his true nature revealed in th

f without any faculty o

agining that M. de La Tour d'Azyr will e

are wrong. He will cert

" Sheer horror r

Tour d'Azyr. I am still considering. It is a position that has its adv

go so far as to say to him: 'Refuse me this, and I shall

ed, I

that you would be wanting in honour if afterwards you refused him? And do you think that I woul

ell away f

she exclaimed, qu

l in it unknown to such sanity as yours. By your l

" In her alarm she backed her horse, and

om behind the wrack of clouds overhead a cres

s I bid you. See, there is a carriage coming up beh

he gallows of M. de Lesdiguieres' providing. The immediate task that he had set himself might be accomplished. He had made hear

one condi

d t

l never seek the aid of M. de

onsent. And now ride on with me as far as t

llage and led straight up the hill to the chateau itself. In silence they rode together towards it, and

she b

from his horse, and sur

I haven't words in

necessary,

hope to repay

oing? I do not want to hear of you hanged, Andre; n

pose h

upon you, and you have turned your coat. He is rightly indignant, calls you a traitor,

that at least, for I

And now - good-bye, Andre. Sen

ghostly in the faint light. He

ess you

ing whither he should go. Quite suddenly he checked, remembering with dismay that he was almost entirely without money. In Brittany itself he knew of no dependable hiding-place, and as long as he was in Brittany his peril mus

time had been spent in the saddle, a wearing thing to one so little accustomed to long rides. Worn as he was, it was unthinkable th

a few louis. His first impulse now was to follow her to the chateau. But prudence dismissed the not

ain he paused. Chavagne lay on the road to Rennes. To go that way was to plunge further into danger. He would strike south again. At the foot of some meadows on this side of the village there

dragging feet. He avoided the little cottage of the ferryman, whose window was alight, and in the dark crept down to the boat, intending if possible to put himself

n it. The ferry was the property of M. de La Tour d'Azyr, and not likely to

ttage, and rapped on the door. When it opened, he stood well

rapped out,

lantern, and came forth as he was bidden. As he stepped from the little porch

" he eja

sed," said Andre–Louis, his eyes on

ferryman. "Since you've been so foolish as to come back to Gavrillac, you had

vice accords with my intention

mination. "I'll hold my peace, but it's

en my face. Forget th

that is all I will do. I cann

of the boat, and I w

t. I'll hold my tongue, but I wi

stood. This man, living under the shadow of La Tour d'Azyr, dared exer

es out of the shooting of Mabey. Had not Mabey been murdered there would have been no need for me to have raised my voic

rted, and the cloud of sull

ot? Would you have a poor man risk his life for you? What have you or yours ever done for me that you should ask that? You do not cross to-night in my f

his cottage, and a wave of hope

tol pressed upon him by Le Chapelier at the moment of his leaving Rennes, a gift which at the time he h

ed it from his pocket, with his left he caught t

nel demanded angrily. "Haven

uzzle of the pistol was w

fter I have burnt your brains. I should regret to kill you, but I shall not hesitate. It is your life again

ed thence a key. He held it out to Andre–Louis i

is teeth like a snarling dog. "But don't

he key. His pistol

d your threat. The moment I am gone, you will run to inform agai

in the cold, sinister note on which Andre–Louis addressed him, and g

better make qui

y of terror. "I mean you no harm - I swear to Heaven I me

you shall have your chance. I am a fool, perhaps, but I have a relucta

re–Louis halted him again. "Get me a length o

air, and effectively silenced by a very uncomfortable

the departing A

quite early in the morning. Until then bear your discomfort with what fortitude you can, remembering that you have brought it entirely upon yourself by your uncharitableness. If yo

out and clo

d not more than six or seven minutes. He drove the nose of the boat through the decaying sedges that fringed the southern bank of the stream, sprang ash