to the purpose. But at that
word she stood before me, white, breathless, dishevelled, struggling for
speech.

'Oh, yes, yes!' she panted eagerly. 'I know--I know!' And she thrust her
hand into her bosom and plucked something out and gave it to me--forced
it upon me. 'I know--I know!' she said again. 'Take it, and God
reward you, Monsieur! God reward you! We give it freely--freely and
thankfully!'

I stood and looked at her and it; and slowly I froze. She had given me
the packet--the packet I had restored to Mademoiselle--the parcel of
jewels. I weighed it in my hands, and my heart grew hard again, for
I knew that this was Mademoiselle's doing; that it was she who,
mistrusting the effect of Madame's tears and prayers, had armed her with
this last weapon--this dirty bribe. I flung it down on the table among
the plates.

'Madame!' I cried ruthlessly, all my pity changed to anger, 'you mistake
me altogether! I have heard hard words enough in the last twenty-four
hours, and I know what you think of me! But you have yet to learn that I
have never done one thing. I have never turned traitor to the hand that
employed me, nor sold my own side! When I do so for a treasure ten times
the worth of that, may my hand rot off!'

She sank on a seat with a moan of despair; and precisely at that moment
M. de Cocheforet opened the door and came in. Over his shoulder I had a
glimpse of Mademoiselle's proud face, a little whiter than of yore, with
dark marks under the eyes, but like Satan's for coldness.

'What is this?' he said, frowning, as his eyes lighted on Madame.

'It is--that we start at eleven o'clock, Monsieur,' I answered, bowing
curtly. And I went out by the other door.

. . . . .

That I might not be present at their parting I remained in the garden
until the hour I had appointed was well past; and then, without entering
the house, I went to the stable entrance. Here I found all in readiness,
the two troopers whose company I had requisitioned as far as Auch,
already in the saddle, my own two knaves waiting with my sorrel and M.
de Cocheforet's chestnut. Another horse was being led up and down by
Louis, and, alas! my heart moved at the sight, for it bore a lady's
saddle. We were to have company then. Was it Madame who meant to come
with us, or Mademoiselle? And how far? To Auch?

I suppose that they had set some kind of a watch on me, for as I walked
up M. de Cocheforet and his sister came out of the house; he with a p