King's miserable, jaundiced mind. And his
commission is cancelled! What that commission is I do not know, but,
thank God! Monsieur La Mothe, you are freed from it, whatever it is,
since it came out of Valmy."

"I thank God too," said La Mothe, his eyes meeting hers a moment and
travelling behind to where the Dauphin stood hugging the wall with
Diane and Lui-meme at his feet. The significance of the glance was
unmistakable, and the girl paused, breathless, in the revelation. The
gifts were his commission, the mask which killed Charlot was his
commission, and the commission was cancelled. The King had repented,
had he not repented there would be no cancellation. "Yes," repeated La
Mothe, "very humbly I thank God, nor do I think the King can have heard
as yet of the Dauphin's second danger. Monsieur, I am at your service;
I was about to leave for Valmy to-night in any case."

"So much the better; but I regret you must go as my prisoner. You can
understand that I have no option."

"I quite understand, and here is my sword. Monseigneur--no, since you
permit it, Charles, my friend, I leave you in good keeping. You will
have Mademoiselle de Vesc, Father John, and Villon here, to watch over
you. Villon, beware of that third cast of the net. I think that is
now the one great danger."

"La Mothe, La Mothe, must you go? Is there no other way? Remember
Molembrais."

"What other way is possible? The King has my word, and if that were
not enough there are what Monsieur de Commines would call five good
reasons behind the door. Monsieur, you have my parole. Something
stronger than your five reasons holds me. Good-bye, Charles, my
friend----"

But somewhere in the boy's blood a dash of the Crusader's spirit he had
sneered at stirred. Brushing past Ursula de Vesc he ranged himself by
La Mothe's side, his coat-of-mail an undulating pool of light as when
the moon shines on a falling wave pitted by the wind.

"Monsieur from Valmy, Mademoiselle de Vesc is right. You may tell my
father that Monsieur La Mothe has twice saved my life and that all
Amboise knows it. That he saved me may not count for much in Valmy--it
may even be against him--but what all Amboise knows all France will
know. I think my father will understand. Monsieur La Mothe, good-bye,
and when you come back we shall play our games together again. I don't
think I care about the mask, but I shall not forget to be Roland.
Come, Father John, let u