und him an amusing and agreeable companion. Had my mood been other
than despairing, the news he gave me might have occasioned me some
concern; for it seemed that prisoners arraigned for treason and
participation in the late rising were being very summarily treated. Many
were never so much as heard in their own defence, the evidence collected
of their defection being submitted to the Tribunal, and judgment being
forthwith passed upon them by judges who had no ears for anything they
might advance in their own favour.

The evidence of my identity was complete: there was my own admission to
Castelroux; the evidence of the treason of Lesperon was none the less
complete; in fact, it was notorious; and there was the Duke's letter
found amongst my effects. If the judges refused to lend an ear to my
assurances that I was not Lesperon at all, but the missing Bardelys, my
troubles were likely to receive a very summary solution. The fear of it,
however, weighed not over-heavily upon me. I was supremely indifferent.
Life was at an end so far as I was concerned. I had ruined the one
chance of real happiness that had ever been held out to me, and if the
gentlemen of the courts of Toulouse were pleased to send me unheeded to
the scaffold, what should it signify?

But there was another matter that did interest me, and that was my
interview with Marsac. Touching this, I spoke to my captor.

"There is a gentleman I wish to see at Grenade this morning. You have
amongst the papers taken from me a letter making this assignation,
Monsieur le Capitaine, and I should be indeed grateful if you would
determine that we shall break our fast there, so that I may have
an opportunity of seeing him. The matter is to me of the highest
importance."

"It concerns--?" he asked.

"A lady," I answered.

"Ah, yes! But the letter is of the nature of a challenge, is it not?
Naturally, I cannot permit you to endanger your life."

"Lest we disappoint the headsman at Toulouse?" I laughed. "Have no fear.
There shall be no duel!"

"Then I am content, monsieur, and you shall see your friend."

I thanked him, and we talked of other things thereafter as we rode in
the early morning along the Toulouse road. Our conversation found its
way, I scarce know how, to the topic of Paris and the Court, and when
I casually mentioned, in passing, that I was well acquainted with the
Luxembourg, he inquired whether I had ever chanced to meet a young spark
of the name of M