covert threat. Civil wars and religious hatred, and I fancy
Italian modes of thought, had for the time changed our countrymen
to beasts. Far more dreadful things were done then than this
which Bezers threatened--even if he meant it literally--far more
dreadful things were suffered. But in the fiendish ingenuity of
his vengeance on her, the helpless, loving woman, I thought Raoul
de Bezers stood alone. Alas! it fares ill with the butterfly
when the cat has struck it down. Ill indeed!

Madame Claude rose and put her arms round the girl, dismissing me
by a gesture. I went out, passing through two or three scared
servants, and made at once for the terrace. I felt as if I could
only breathe there. I found Marie and St. Croix together,
silent, the marks of tears on their faces. Our eyes met and they
told one tale.

We all spoke at the same time. "When?" we said. But the others
looked to me for an answer.

I was somewhat sobered by that, and paused to consider before I
replied. "At daybreak to-morrow," I decided presently. "It is
an hour after noon already. We want money, and the horses are
out. It will take an hour to bring them in. After that we might
still reach Cahors to-night, perhaps; but more haste less speed
you know. At daybreak to-morrow we will start."

They nodded assent.

It was a great thing we meditated. No less than to go to Paris--
the unknown city so far beyond the hills--and seek out M. de