Part 9 (2/2)
”It is the only way fit for a gentlehly aroused at this ill-chosen trifling with time ”Either you do as I bid you, or else we settle doithout any more ado, to wait the file to-morro often does the Commandant look in?”
”On the stroke of the shi+p's bell”
”Then, Monsieur, the sooner you arrive at soame, I play it out with you to the end” As I spoke I leaned carelessly back against the lower bunk, puffing away at ht once more
I could note fro ree of aroused interest, but I would have rested there without further speech until the guard came, had he not first broken silence
”And she sent you?”
”So I said”
”To me, not Lafreniere, her father?”
”There was a possible chance to save one, not two”
”_Sacre_! yes, I understand that; yet it doth puzzle me why she should have chosen as she did Know you just why it was De Noyan instead of Lafreniere?”
”Madame selected hly tired of his questioning ”Lafreniere, I understood, positively refused opportunity to escape, from scruples of conscience
Besides, the father , with long life before you No doubt this also had weight with her decision As for ht have been sohthis shoulders
”You are not especially choice in speech, yet your purpose harmonizes someith my present humor I will risk the effort; so now tell n of pleasure at his decision to appear inyou in this cassock so you uard beneath its gray cover,” I said quietly
”I purposed reht; but now that we have met, to be perfectly frank about it, I retain no confidence in your discretion which arrant the risk I therefore decide we had better abide together until this venture be done”
He sood humor at my words
”No doubt it will prove best, e should supple bow ”I rather suspect, from outward appearance, you may be some years my junior, yet in life experience I readily yield you the palm So lead on, most noble Captain; from henceforth command me as your devoted follower And now, your excellency, I trust you will pardon if I venture the inquiry, ould you have your hu as he pleased Now I had won his pledge I cared little for the nature of his raillery While he talked I flung open the great chest upon which I had been sitting, and discovering it packed with clothing, hastily dragged the various articles forth, flinging the the pile with blankets in such a ure of a man Then I turned toward hiet in here”
”_Sacre_! not I--”
There caeithout; then a hand fell heavily upon the latch of the door
CHAPTER VIII
FAVORED OF THE GodS