orders. A cripple, whom the bustle had attracted from his usual
haunt, the church porch, held up his hand for alms. The Vidame
as he passed, cut him savagely across the face with his whip, and
cursed him audibly.

"May the devil take him!" exclaimed Croisette in just rage. But
I said nothing, remembering that the cripple was a particular pet
of Catherine's. I thought instead of an occasion, not so very
long ago, when the Vicomte being at home, we had had a great
hawking party. Bezers and Catherine had ridden up the street
together, and Catherine giving the cripple a piece of money,
Bezers had flung to him all his share of the game. And my heart
sank.

Only for a moment, however. The man was gone; or was going at
any rate. We stood silent and motionless, all watching, until,
after what seemed a long interval, the little party of seven
became visible on the white road far below us--to the northward,
and moving in that direction. Still we watched them, muttering a
word to one another, now and again, until presently the riders
slackened their pace, and began to ascend the winding track that
led to the hills and Cahors; and to Paris also, if one went far
enough.

Then at length with a loud "Whoop!" we dashed across the
terrace, Croisette leading, and so through the courtyard to the
parlour; where we arrived breathless. "He is off!" Croisette
cried shrilly. "He has started for Paris! And bad luck go with
him!" And we all flung up our caps and shouted.