gladly obeyed; and when, after this short delay, they proceeded,
Osbert moved somewhat less painfully, but when they arrived at the
stable only four horses stood there.

'Ah! this miserable!' cried Aime, passionately, 'he ruins all my
arrangements.'

'Leave me,' again entreated Landry. 'Once outside, I can act the beggar
and cripple, and get back to Normandy.'

'Better leave me,' said Humfrey; 'they cannot keep me when you are out
of their clutches.'

'Help me, Humfrey,' said Berenger, beginning to lift his foster-brother
to the saddle, but there the poor man wavered, cried out that his head
swam, and he could not keep his seat, entreating almost in agony to be
taken down.

'Lean on me,' said Berenger, putting his arms round him. 'There! you
will be able to get to the Grange du Temple, where you will be in safe
shelter.'

'Sir, sir,' cried Aime, ready to tear his hair, 'this is ruin! My lady
meant you to make all speed to La Rochelle and there embark, and this is
the contrary way!'

'That cannot be helped,' said Berenger; 'it is the only safe place for
my foster-brother.'

Aime, with childish petulance, muttered something about ingratitude in
crossing his lady's plans; but, as no one attended to him, he proceeded
to unfasten his horse, and then exclaimed, half crying, 'Will no one
help me?'

'Not able to saddle a horse! a pretty fellow for a cavalier!' exclaimed
Philip, assisting, however, and in a few minutes they were all issuing
from a low side gate, and looking back with bounding hearts at the
drooping banner on the keep of Nid-de-Merle.

Only young Aime went with bowed head and drooping look, as though
pouting, and Berenger, putting Osbert's bridle into Humfrey's hand,
stepped up to him, saying, 'Hark you, M. de Selinville, I am sorry if
we seemed to neglect you. We owe you and your lady all gratitude, but
I must be the judge of my own duty, and you can only be with me if you
conform.'

The young seemed to be devouring his tears, but only said, 'I was vexed
to see my lady's plan marred, and your chance thrown away.'

'Of that I must judge,' said Berenger.

They were in a by-lane, perfectly solitary. The whole country was at the
funeral. Through the frosty air there came an occasional hum or murmur
from Berenger, or the tinkle of a cow-bell in the fields, but no human
being was visible. It was certain, however, that the Rotrous, being
Huguenots, and no vassals of Nid-de-Merle, would not be at the