"fear not, my son. The duke would
never kill his grandchild."

"No," he replied, "but he might compel her to marry some brute of a
baron, and that would kill her."

The next day Gabrielle, mounted on an ass, followed by her nurse on
foot, her father on his mule, and a valet who led two horses laden with
baggage, started for the castle of Herouville, where the caravan arrived
at nightfall. In order to keep this journey secret, Beauvouloir
had taken by-roads, starting early in the morning, and had brought
provisions to be eaten by the way, in order not to show himself at
hostelries. The party arrived, therefore, after dark, without being
noticed by the castle retinue, at the little dwelling on the seashore,
so long occupied by the hated son, where Bertrand, the only person the
doctor had taken into his confidence, awaited them. The old retainer
helped the nurse and valet to unload the horses and carry in the
baggage, and otherwise establish the daughter of Beauvouloir in
Etienne's former abode. When Bertrand saw Gabrielle, he was amazed.

"I seem to see madame!" he cried. "She is slim and willowy like her; she
has madame's coloring and the same fair hair. The old duke will surely
love her."

"God grant it!" said Beauvouloir. "But will he acknowledge his own blood
after it has passed through mine?"

"He can't deny it," replied Bertrand. "I often went to fetch him
from the door of the Belle Romaine, who lived in the rue
Culture-Sainte-Catherine. The Cardinal de Lorraine was compelled to give
her up to monseigneur, out of shame at being insulted by the mob when
he left her house. Monseigneur, who in those days was still in his
twenties, will remember that affair; bold he was,--I can tell it now--he
led the insulters!"

"He never thinks of the past," said Beauvouloir. "He knows my wife is
dead, but I doubt if he remembers I have a daughter."

"Two old navigators like you and me ought to be able to bring the ship
to port," said Bertrand. "After all, suppose the duke does get angry and
seize our carcasses; they have served their time."

CHAPTER VI. LOVE

Before starting for Paris, the Duc d'Herouville had forbidden the castle
servants under heavy pains and penalties to go upon the shore where
Etienne had passed his life, unless the Duc de Nivron took any of them
with him. This order, suggested by Beauvouloir, who had shown the duke
the wisdom of leaving Etienne master of his solitude, guaranteed to
Gabriell