en those fellows who thronged the court-yard--"

"Were a part of Captain Ferragant's famous company,--only a part, as I
should have said at first, unless he has reduced its numbers. Well,
instead of having the difficulty of besieging the chateau, the guards
had the luck to meet the Count in the road, when he had only a few
followers with him. And so they made short work."

"They succeeded in arresting him?"

"Not exactly that. He chose to resist, no doubt thinking he would soon
be reinforced from the chateau by the Captain and garrison. And in the
fight, the Count was killed,--stuck through the lungs by the sword of a
guard who had to defend himself from the Count's own attack."

"My God! the Count killed!--dead!--out of the way!" For a moment I
entirely yielded to the force of this news, which to my ears meant so
much.

"Yes. You don't seem grieved.--Yes: he will never annoy people again.
The Captain, though, seeing from the chateau how matters had gone, came
out with his men on horseback,--not to avenge the Count, but to ride off
as fast as possible in the other direction. So the King's guardsmen had
no trouble in getting into the chateau. A party of them, I believe, set
off in pursuit of the Captain, who has long been a thorn in the side of
people who love order. If he is caught, it can be shown that he was
involved in the treason; and there it is."

"So the Captain has not been caught?"

"He had not been when I heard the news."

"And how did you hear it?"

"From one of the guardsmen, who happens to be of my acquaintance. I saw
them as they came through Chateaudun yesterday afternoon, on their
return from this business. We had very little time for talking."

"Then you were not with them at Lavardin?"

"I with them? Certainly not, Monsieur. Why should I have been with them?
No; I have been staying in this part of the country for my own pleasure
the past few days: I think of buying some apple orchards near
Chateaudun.--I fancied you would be interested in this news."

"I am, dear Monsieur de Pepicot,--infinitely. I am sorry I must leave
you now, but I have business of some haste. I thank you heartily, and
hope we may meet again. You know where La Tournoire is."

Five minutes later, with my baskets slung before me, and having left one
horse at the inn, I was riding out of Bonneval to tell the Countess that
she was free.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE MERCY OF CAPTAIN FERRAGANT

I had come to a place wher