FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139  
140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   >>  
wit, "by a secret passage similar to the one by which I entered your room just now. We are to await a signal from my master--the raising of his sword--and then we are to fall upon you and make sure of our work. He warned me that if we made a botch of it you would probably send us all to Heaven, and if we let aught be known about it, we should all be hanged; and so, methinks, I had better go be hanged." Charles could not restrain his amusement at the doleful sincerity with which the last words were uttered. On other lips the closing remark would have sounded like dry humour; but Etienne's voice showed that he expected no better fate. "So, your master pays me the compliment of hiring no less than four men to kill me," said Charles. "And what do you propose to do, now that you have warned me?" "I know not, Monsieur. It took me an hour walking up and down outside the gate to get thus far. Another hour's thinking may help me to find some way of escape from the Sieur de Roberval's wrath." "I fear, good Etienne, he will never forgive you if his plot miscarries. He is not a man to break his promises. Perhaps we may see an easier way out of it than by means of a rope. Who commands the guard to-night?" "Pierre Dablon." "Would he let you pass without doubting your word?" "Ay, that he would! Pierre has too often felt the strength of my arm to doubt my word." "The way is plain, then! Go to the stables, saddle your master's best and fleetest horse, and put as many leagues between you and this castle as you can before the time comes to lead your fellows to my death. Tell Pierre you are sent out by De Roberval with a message that brooks no delay, and, seeing you so mounted, he will question you no further. Take this ring, and keep your horse warm till you reach St Malo. Enquire out Master Jacques Cartier; every Malouin can direct you to him. Show him the ring, and he will provide for you till I come. And say not a word of your master's attempt on my life. Let none but Master Cartier's ears hear the story of Mdlle. de Roberval and M. de Pontbriand. The world does not understand. They may still be alive, and we will bring them back; and all France shall hear their story from their own lips." Etienne could only fall on his knees and kiss Charles' hand in speechless gratitude. "But, Monsieur," he exclaimed, "will you not come with me? My master will certainly kill you; and the castle is full of cut-throats who will
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139  
140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   >>  



Top keywords:
master
 

Pierre

 

Charles

 

Etienne

 

Roberval

 
Cartier
 
castle
 

Monsieur

 
Master
 

warned


hanged

 

leagues

 
speechless
 

gratitude

 
fellows
 

strength

 
doubting
 
throats
 

fleetest

 

message


saddle

 

stables

 

exclaimed

 

understand

 

provide

 

direct

 

Malouin

 

Pontbriand

 

attempt

 

question


mounted

 
France
 

Jacques

 

Enquire

 

brooks

 
escape
 

amusement

 
doleful
 

sincerity

 
restrain

methinks
 

humour

 
showed
 
sounded
 

remark

 

uttered

 
closing
 

signal

 
entered
 

secret