commodation."

"I am also instructed," the governor said, "to close the gate, in case
any party, followers of the Dukes of Vendome or Beaufort, or of any
families connected with them, arrive before you leave, and to grant them
no admittance until a messenger from the mouth of the river informs me
that you are fairly out at sea."

"I am indeed obliged to his eminence for that order, sir; he did not
mention to me that he was giving it, but it will certainly save me from
much anxiety."

As Hector was not disposed to haggle about terms, he had no difficulty
in hiring a vessel to carry them across the Channel. Twenty-four hours
after his arrival the party from the chateau rode in, and but half an
hour later fifty horsemen wearing the cognizance of Vendome galloped
up to the gate. They were headed by four or five gentlemen, one of whom
demanded angrily why the gates were shut.

"They are closed by order of the governor," the officer in charge
replied.

"Tell the governor that the Count d'Erlon, with a party of gentlemen,
retainers of the Duke of Vendome, are here, and demand instant
admittance."

Twenty minutes later the governor himself arrived at the gate. "I am
sorry, gentlemen," he said, "that I am compelled to keep the gates
closed. I have an order from Cardinal Mazarin to that effect, and that,
coming from the first minister of France, I dare not disregard even if
the duke himself were with you. It would cost me my place, and
possibly gain me a cell in the Bastille; and, grieved as I am to refuse
admittance to such honourable gentlemen, still I must do so."

"And for how long is this monstrous edict to remain in force?" the
leader of the party asked.

"That I am unable to say precisely, but I believe that I can open them
tomorrow morning."

"You see, we were right, count," another of the horsemen said. "The
description of the man who rode along here with two attendants tallies
with that of this Scot, and doubtless this order was brought by him
from Mazarin to enable him to get either by water away abroad or to his
chateau of la Villar."

"Well, gentlemen, at any rate we have done our best, and though we must
have slain the fellow if we had overtaken him, I cannot say that I
am altogether grieved that he has escaped. His name is well known to
everyone. He did brave service to France under Turenne and Conde. We
learned from the messenger who brought the letter from Beaufort that he
killed de Beauvais in fair