Part 35 (1/2)

You and I ride at once! Blaise, marshal the men, and follow when you can, by the forest path!”

”Ah!” cried Blaise, overjoyed. ”To Guienne, to join Henri of Navarre?”

”No!” I answered. ”To Clochonne, to join mademoiselle!”

Maugert obediently and hastily brought me my breast-piece, and began to adjust it to my body. I already had my sword. Frojac had started for the stables, but at my answer to Blaise he stopped and looked at me in astonishment.

It was thus with me: Mademoiselle had gone. The presence that had made Maury a paradise to me was no longer there. The place was now intolerable. I could not exist away from mademoiselle. Where she was not, life to me was torture. Guilty or innocent, she gave the world all the charm it had for me. Traitress or true, she drew me to her. If she were innocent, she imperilled herself. In any event, if she went to Clochonne she put herself in the power of Montignac. The thought of that was maddening to me. I must find her, whatever the risk. Perhaps I could catch her before she reached Clochonne. If I ran into danger, I should presently have Blaise and the men to help me out; but I could not wait for them to arm. Every minute of delay was galling. Into what might she fall? Whatever she be, good or bad, angel or fiend, I must see her--see her!

Blaise stood looking at me with open mouth.

”She will prove her honesty, my life upon it!” I said.

”You are mad!” cried Blaise. ”She will reach the chateau of Clochonne long before you do!”

”Then I shall enter the chateau!” I answered, helping Maugert buckle on my armor.

”And meet the governor and garrison!” said Blaise.

”They will rejoice to see me!”

”'Tis rus.h.i.+ng into the lion's den, monsieur!” put in Frojac.

”Let the lion look to himself,” said I, standing forth at last, all armed and ready.

Frojac ran to get the horses.

”They would not let you see her!” cried Blaise, stubbornly standing in my way. ”You would go straight to death for nothing! My captain, you shall not!”

And, as I started towards the stables to mount, he lay hands on me to hold me back, and Maugert, too, caught me by one of the arms.

”Out of my way, rebels!” I cried, vehemently, struggling to free myself from them. ”I shall see her to-night though I have to beat down every sword in France and force the very gates of h.e.l.l!”

I threw them both from me so violently that neither dared touch me again.

As I stepped forward I saw on the ground at my feet the glove that mademoiselle had given me, and which I had been caressing while sitting alone in the courtyard. I must have dropped it on hearing Frojac's news.

I now stopped and picked it up. 'Twas all that was left with me of mademoiselle. She had worn it, it had the form of her hand. I held it in my fingers and looked at it. Again came the song of the gypsy:

”False flame of woman's love!”

I pressed the glove again and again to my lips, tears gushed from my eyes, and I murmured: ”Ah, mademoiselle, G.o.d grant I do not find you false!”

Five minutes later, Frojac and I were speeding our horses over the forest path towards Clochonne.

CHAPTER XV.

TO CLOCHONNE, AFTER MADEMOISELLE

On through the forest, on over the narrow path, the horse seeming to feel my own impatience, his hoofs crus.h.i.+ng the fallen twigs and the vegetation that lay in the way, the branches of the trees striking me in forehead and eyes, my heart on fire, my mind a turmoil, on to learn the truth, on to see her! The moon was now overhead, and here and there it lighted up the path. Close behind me came Frojac. I heard the footfalls and the breathing of his horse.

Would we come up to her before she reached Clochonne? This depended on the length of start she had. She would lose some time, perhaps, through being less familiar with the road than we were, yet wherever the road lay straight before her she would force her horse to its utmost, guessing that her departure would be discovered and herself pursued.