soul. I spoke of the hopes that I based upon
Castelroux's finding friends to recognize me--hopes that were passing
slender. And she, poor child, sought also to cheer me and give me
courage.

"If only the King were here!" she sighed. "I would go to him, and on my
knees I would plead for your enlargement. But they say he is no nearer
than Lyons; and I could not hope to get there and back by Monday. I will
go to the Keeper of the Seals again, monsieur, and I will beg him to be
merciful, and at least to delay the sentence."

I did not discourage her; I did not speak of the futility of such a
step. But I begged her to remain in Toulouse until Monday, that
she might visit me again before the end, if the end were to become
inevitable.

Then Castelroux came to reconduct her, and we parted. But she left me
a great consolation, a great strengthening comfort. If I were destined,
indeed, to walk to the scaffold, it seemed that I could do it with a
better grace and a gladder courage now.

CHAPTER XIII. THE ELEVENTH HOUR

Castelroux visited me upon the following morning, but he brought no news
that might be accounted encouraging. None of his messengers were yet
returned, nor had any sent word that they were upon the trail of my
followers. My heart sank a little, and such hope as I still fostered
was fast perishing. Indeed, so imminent did my doom appear and so
unavoidable, that later in the day I asked for pen and paper that I
might make an attempt at setting my earthly affairs to rights. Yet when
the writing materials were brought me, I wrote not. I sat instead with
the feathered end of my quill between my teeth, and thus pondered the
matter of the disposal of my Picardy estates.

Coldly I weighed the wording of the wager and the events that had
transpired, and I came at length to the conclusion that Chatellerault
could not be held to have the least claim upon my lands. That he had
cheated at the very outset, as I have earlier shown, was of less account
than that he had been instrumental in violently hindering me.

I took at last the resolve to indite a full memoir of the transaction,
and to request Castelroux to see that it was delivered to the King
himself. Thus not only would justice be done, but I should--though
tardily--be even with the Count. No doubt he relied upon his power to
make a thorough search for such papers as I might leave, and to destroy
everything that might afford indication of my true identity.