" said I, "I saw what
injury was done. I could only come in his place, and offer myself. By
one means and another, I learned who it was had sent for him."

"That brave young gentleman," said she, following her own thoughts;
"that he should die so soon! And you, with his blood on your
hands."--she drew back from me a step--"come to offer your service to me
who, little as I was to him, must yet be counted among his friends!
Monsieur, what could you think of my loyalty?"

"I thought only of what might be done to prevent further harm. Though I
fought him, I was not his enemy. I had never seen him before. It was a
sudden quarrel, about nothing. Heaven knows, I did not think it would
end as it did. That end has been lamentable enough, Madame. Punish me if
you will: as his friend, you are entitled to avenge him."

"I only pity him, Monsieur. God forbid I should think of revenge!"

"You are a saint, Madame. I was about to say that my having killed him
need not make you reject my service. Your doing so might but add to the
evil consequences of my act. Surely he would prefer your accepting my
aid, now that he is for ever powerless to give his. And we must think
now of something to be done--"

[Illustration: "WE WERE INTERRUPTED BY A LOW CRY."]

We were interrupted by a low cry, "Madame, Madame!" in a soft voice from
within the arbour that sheltered the walk. The Countess said to me, "It
is Mathilde. She means some one is coming. Hide among these bushes. If
we do not meet again, adieu, Monsieur; I thank you from my heart, and
may God pardon you the death of Monsieur de Merri!"

She started for the walk: I whispered, "But I must help you! Can we not
meet again presently?"

"I know not," she replied. "Act as you think best, Monsieur. But do not
endanger yourself. I must be gone now."

She hastened to join the maid, whose whereabouts were indicated by a low
cough. I heard voices, and instantly crawled under the rose bushes,
heedless of scratches. As the voices came down the walk, one of them
turned out to be that of Captain Ferragant. There was but one other,
which I took, from the talk which I heard later, to belong to a falconer
or some such underling. The Captain addressed a few remarks to the
Countess, as to her state of health and the beauty of the day, which she
answered in low tones. Then he and his companion proceeded to walk
about, talking continually, never getting entirely out of my hearing,
and often coming so n