arefully chosen attitude of studied languor. He was leaning forward
in his chair watching a carriage which had just come into sight along
the straight wide road which led from the outside world to the chateau.

"The devil!" he exclaimed. "My respected uncle! Jacques!"

A man-servant stepped out upon the terrace.

"Monsieur!"

"Remove the absinthe, Jacques. Monsieur le Duc arrives!"

Guy, who also had been watching the carriage, gave utterance to a little
exclamation. He pointed to two figures on horseback who rode behind the
carriage.

"The gendarmes!" he exclaimed. "They have come for me at last!"

His face was no longer ruddy. The pallor of fear had crept to his
cheeks. A note of despair rang in his voice.

His companion only laughed.

"Gendarmes, perhaps," he answered, "but not for you, my young friend.
Have I not told you that you are in sanctuary here? A guest of the Duc
de Bergillac evades all suspicion. Ah, I understand well those
gendarmes. Let their presence cause you no anxiety, _cher monsieur_.
They are a guard of honor for my reverend uncle and the personage who
rides with him."

Guy resumed his chair, and sat with his head buried in his hands in an
attitude of depression. His companion leaned over the stone balustrade
of the terrace and waved his hand to the occupants of the carriage
below. They pulled up at the bottom of the steps and commenced slowly to
ascend. In obedience to an imperious gesture from his uncle, Henri
advanced to meet them. He greeted his uncle with graceful affection.
Before the other man, although his appearance was homely and his dress
almost untidy, he bowed very low indeed, and accepted his proffered hand
as a mark of favor.

The Duc de Bergillac was tall, sallow, with black moustache and
imperial. He possessed all the personal essentials of the aristocrat,
and he had the air of one accustomed to command.

"Henri," he said, "your young friend is with you?"

"But certainly," his nephew answered with a sigh. "Am I not always
obedient? He has scarcely been out of my sight since we arrived."

"Very good! You saw us arrive just now. Did you mention the name of
Monsieur Grisson?" the Duke asked.

"But certainly not!" Henri answered.

The Duke nodded.

"You have discretion," he said. "Monsieur Grisson is here incognito. He
wishes to hear your young friend's story from his own lips."

The Duke's companion nodded silently. He had the air of a silent man. He
was short,