would have done better had he obeyed me in
everything. If I had been at Louisburg--"

I could not at first bring myself to flatter the vice-regal peacock;
for it had been my mind to fight these Frenchmen always; to yield
in nothing; to defeat them like a soldier, not like a juggler. But I
brought myself to say half ironically, "If all great men had capable
instruments, they would seldom fail."

"You have touched the heart of the matter," he said credulously. "It
is a pity," he added, with complacent severity, "that you have been
so misguided and criminal; you have, in some things, more sense than
folly."

I bowed as to a compliment from a great man. Then, all at once, I spoke
to him with an air of apparent frankness, and said that if I must die, I
cared to do so like a gentleman, with some sort of health, and not like
an invalid. He must admit that at least I was no coward. He might fence
me about with what guards he chose, but I prayed him to let me walk
upon the ramparts, when I was strong enough to be abroad, under all due
espionage. I had already suffered many deaths, I said, and I would go to
the final one looking like a man, and not like an outcast of humanity.

"Ah, I have heard this before," said he. "Monsieur Doltaire, who is in
prison here, and is to fare on to the Bastile, was insolent enough to
send me message yesterday that I should keep you close in your dungeon.
But I had had enough of Monsieur Doltaire; and indeed it was through
me that the Grande Marquise had him called to durance. He was a muddler
here. They must not interfere with me; I am not to be cajoled or
crossed in my plans. We shall see, we shall see about the ramparts," he
continued. "Meanwhile prepare to die." This he said with such importance
that I almost laughed in his face. But I bowed with a sort of awed
submission, and he turned and left the room.

I grew stronger slowly day by day, but it was quite a month before Alixe
came again. Sometimes I saw her walking on the banks of the river, and
I was sure she was there that I might see her, though she made no sign
towards me, nor ever seemed to look towards my window.

Spring was now fully come. The snow had gone from the ground, the tender
grass was springing, the air was so soft and kind. One fine day, at the
beginning of May, I heard the booming of cannons and a great shouting,
and, looking out, I could see crowds of people upon the banks, and many
boats in the river, where yet the