"I have
taken the risk of bringing the maid here, thinking to place her in
safety with my mother. Neither she nor I will fail. We will keep her
with our lives--aye, and so will you, brothers!"

"So we will!" said Jean-Marie and Don Jordy together, "of course!"

"Pity it is for another man!" said the lawyer grimly--"that is, if what
Anatole says be true."

"It is too true!" said the Professor bravely--"true and natural and
right, that the young should seek the young and love the young and
cleave to the young!"

"That, at least, is comforting for those who (like myself) are still
young!" said Don Jordy, with some mockery in his tone; "for you and the
Alcalde there, the comfort is somewhat chilly!"

And neither of his seniors could find it in their hearts to contradict
Don Jordy.

The brothers conferred long together, and at last found nothing better
than that Claire should remain at La Masane with their mother, while she
should be solemnly charged not to leave the house except in company with
one of the three brothers. They would mount guard one by one, and even
the master of the Castle of Collioure would hardly venture to violate
the sanctuary of the Mas of La Masane.

Curiously enough, in their arrangements, none of them thought once of
Jean-aux-Choux. Yet, had they but looked out of the door, they would
have seen Jean wrapped in his rough shepherd's cloak, leaning his chin
on his five-foot staff, his great wolf-hound at attention, his flock
clumped about his feet, but his eyes fixed on the lonely Mas where, in
the twilight, these three brothers sat and discussed with knitted brows
concerning the fate of Claire Agnew.

CHAPTER XXVII.

SECOND COUNCIL OF WAR

"You are late, Count Raphael," said a tall lady, presiding over a little
gathering of men and women in the upper hall of the Castle of Collioure.
The Duchess of Err was a Spanish lady who had dwelt some time at the
Court of Paris in the time of Francis II. and Mary of Scotland. And ever
since she had posed as one who could innovate if she would, so that the
ancient customs of Spain would not know themselves again when she had
done with them. As, however, she took good care to keep this carefully
from King Philip's ears, nothing very remarkable came of it.

But, nevertheless, the Duchess of Err had a certain repute for
originality and daring, which served her as well then as at any other
period of the world's history. Her husband accompanied her,