-and only me. They may know nothing of the Vicomte's
defection. Shall you, then, be the one to inform them of it by your
unbridled rantings and your accusations?"

Her jaw fell open in astonishment. This was a side of the question she
had not considered.

"Let me prevail upon you, madame, to withdraw and to be of good courage.
It is more than likely that you alarm yourself without cause."

She continued to stare at me in her amazement and the confusion that was
congenital with it, and if there was not time for her to withdraw, at
least the possibility I had suggested acted as a timely warning.

In that moment the door opened again, and on the threshold appeared a
young man in a plumed hat and corselet, carrying a naked sword in one
hand and a lanthorn in the other. Behind him I caught the gleam of steel
from the troopers at his heels.

"Which of you is Monsieur Rene de Lesperon?" he inquired politely, his
utterance flavoured by a strong Gascon accent.

I stood forward. "I am known by that name, Monsieur le Capitaine," said
I.

He looked at me wistfully, apologetically almost, then "In the King's
name, Monsieur de Lesperon, I call upon you to yield!" said he.

"I have been expecting you. My sword is yonder, monsieur," I replied
suavely. "If you will allow me to dress, I shall be ready to accompany
you in a few minutes."

He bowed, and it at once became clear that his business at Lavedan
was--as I had suggested to the Vicomtesse might be possible--with me
alone.

"I am grateful for the readiness of your submission," said this
very polite gentleman. He was a comely lad, with blue eyes and a
good-humoured mouth, to which a pair of bristling moustaches sought
vainly to impart an expression of ferocity.

"Before you proceed to dress, monsieur, I have another duty to
discharge."

"Discharge your duty, monsieur," I answered. Whereupon he made a sign to
his men, and in a moment they were ransacking my garments and effects.
While this was taking place, he turned to the Vicomte and Vicomtesse,
and offered them a thousand apologies for having interrupted their
slumbers, and for so rudely depriving them of their guest. He advanced
in his excuse the troublous nature of the times, and threw in a bunch
of malisons at the circumstances which forced upon soldiers the odious
duties of the tipstaff, hoping that we would think him none the less a
gentleman for the unsavoury business upon which he was engaged.

From my cloth