the business they had charged him with. As for Marsac
and Lesperon, they were both eager enough to have the mystery explained,
and when Castelroux having consented--I invited them to my chamber, they
came readily enough.

Since Monsieur de Lesperon did not recognize me, there was no reason
why I should enlighten him touching my identity, and every reason why
I should not. As soon as they were seated, I went to the heart of the
matter at once and without preamble.

"A fortnight ago, gentlemen," said I, "I was driven by a pack of
dragoons across the Garonne. I was wounded in the shoulder and very
exhausted, and I knocked at the gates of Lavedan to crave shelter. That
shelter, gentlemen, was afforded me, and when I had announced myself as
Monsieur de Lesperon, it was all the more cordially because one Monsieur
de Marsac, who was a friend of the Vicomte de Lavedan, and a partisan
in the lost cause of Orleans, happened often to have spoken of a
certain Monsieur de Lesperon as his very dear friend. I have no doubt,
gentlemen, that you will think harshly of me because I did not enlighten
the Vicomte. But there were reasons for which I trust you will not press
me, since I shall find it difficult to answer you with truth."

"But is your name Lesperon?" cried Lesperon.

"That, monsieur, is a small matter. Whether my name is Lesperon or
not, I confess to having practised a duplicity upon the Vicomte and his
family, since I am certainly not the Lesperon whose identity I accepted.
But if I accepted that identity, monsieur, I also accepted your
liabilities, and so I think that you should find it in your heart to
extend me some measure of forgiveness. As Rene de Lesperon, of Lesperon
in Gascony, I was arrested last night at Lavedan, and, as you may
observe, I am being taken to Toulouse to stand the charge of high
treason. I have not demurred; I have not denied in the hour of trouble
the identity that served me in my hour of need. I am taking the
bitter with the sweet, and I assure you, gentlemen, that the bitter
predominates in a very marked degree."

"But this must not be," cried Lesperon, rising. "I know not what use
you may have made of my name, but I have no reason to think that you can
have brought discredit upon it, and so--"

"I thank you, monsieur, but--"

"And so I cannot submit that you shall go to Toulouse in my stead. Where
is this officer whose prisoner you are? Pray summon him, monsieur, and
let us set the matter