nd when the explanation was
made, she pouted, and owned that she could not bear to be reminded of
the most foolish and uncomfortable scene in her life--the cause of all
her troubles; and as Berenger was telling her of Diane's confession
that her being involved in the pageant was part of the plot for their
detention at Paris, Osbert knocked at the door, and entered with a
bundle in his arms, and the air of having done the right thing.

'There, sir,' he said with proud satisfaction, 'I have been to the camp
across the river. I heard there were good stuffs to be had there for
nothing, and thought I would see if I could find a coat for Monsieur
Philippe, for his own is a mere ruin.'

This was true, for Eustacie had been deciding that between blood and
rents it had become a hopeless case for renovation; and Osbert joyfully
displayed a beautifully-embroidered coat of soft leather, which he had
purchased for a very small sum of a plunderer who had been there before
him. The camp had been so hastily abandoned that all the luggage
had been left, and, like a true valet, Osbert had not neglected the
opportunity of replenishing his master's wardrobe. 'And,' said he, 'I
saw there on whom M. le Baron knows,--M. de Nid de Merle.'

'Here!' cried Eustacie, startled for a moment, but her eyes resting
reassured on her husband.

'Madame need not be alarmed,' said Osbert; 'M. le Baron has well repaid
him. Ah! ah! there he lies, a spectacle for all good Christians to
delight in.'

'It was then he, _le scelerat_?' exclaimed Berenger; 'I have already
thought it possible.'

'And he fell by your hands!' cried Eustacie. 'That is as it should be.'

'Yes, Madame,' said Osbert; 'it did my very heart good to see him
writhing there like a crushed viper. M. le Baron's bullet was mortal,
and his own people thought him not worth the moving, so there he lies
on the ground howling and cursing. I would have given him the _coup de
grace_ myself, but that I thought M. le Baron might have some family
matters to settle with him; so I only asked what he thought now of
clapping guiltless folk into dungeons, and shooting innocent children
like sparrows; but he grinned and cursed like a demon, and I left him.'

'In any one's charge?' asked Berenger.

'In the field's, who is coming for him,' said the descendant of the
Norseman. 'I only told Humfrey that if he saw any one likely to meddle
he should tell them he was reserved for you. Eh! M. le Baron is not