Edmond, till we meet again."

"And may that be soon!" I exclaimed warmly.

CHAPTER XVIII

A Warning from L'Estang

The hour being late when we reached Le Blanc, Jacques proposed that we
should put up at the inn. Old Pierre came bustling out with a hearty
welcome; the horses were stabled, a room was prepared, and by the time
we had removed the traces of our journey Pierre brought in a substantial
and appetising supper.

"Why, Pierre," I exclaimed laughing, "you must have laid your larder
bare!"

"All the larders in the village would be laid bare for monsieur's use,"
replied the old man, and I believed him.

"Come Jacques," I said, "sit down and fall-to; the ride to-day must have
put an edge on your appetite!" for we had eaten nothing since the early
morning.

After supper I bade Pierre seat himself and tell us the news of the
neighbourhood, which he did willingly, though there was but little to
relate. The castle still remained closed, and when I asked about the
keys he said they had been taken away by the officer, and no one knew
what had become of them.

"That need not keep us out long," said Jacques, "we can easily get
fresh ones made in the morning; Urie will see to that."

"Has Etienne Cordel been in the village lately?" I asked.

"He is always here, monsieur," cried the old man with an angry outburst;
"he collects the money for the crown, and acts as if he were the
rightful owner. He gives himself as many airs as if he were some great
lord!"

"Which he may be one of these days; he has powerful friends at Court.
Doesn't he talk of what he will do in the future?"

"He tells idle tales, monsieur," replied Pierre with a frown.

"What does he say?"

"That before long the estates will be his own, and that the king has
promised to make him the Sieur Le Blanc. He is going to live in the
castle and grind us under his feet. But"--and the old man shook his head
scornfully--"I don't think his life at the castle will be a long one! A
rascally lawyer to be our master, forsooth!"

"Well, Pierre," I said, "at present I intend living there myself, and, I
do not suppose Cordel will care to keep me company. Send word to Urie
that I shall need his services at daylight, and now we will go to bed;
Jacques is half asleep already."

"I do feel drowsy, monsieur," said Jacques, almost as if it were a crime
to be tired, "but I shall be fresh by the morning."

The news of my return quickly spread, and next day