But the Vicomte crossed rapidly to the window and looked out. Then
he laughed with intense relief; and in a wondering voice "They are
not troopers," he announced. "They have more the air of a company
of servants in private livery; and there is a carriage - pardieu,
two carriages!"

At once the memory of Rodenard and my followers occurred to me, and
I thanked Heaven that I was abed where he might not see me, and that
thus he would probably be sent forth empty-handed with the news that
his master was neither arrived nor expected.

But in that surmise I went too fast. Ganymede was of a tenacious
mettle, and of this he now afforded proof. Upon learning that
naught was known of the Marquis de Bardelys at Lavedan, my faithful
henchman announced his intention to remain there and await me, since
that was, he assured the Vicomte, my destination.

"My first impulse," said Lavedan, when later he came to tell me of
it, "was incontinently to order his departure. But upon considering
the matter and remembering how high in power and in the King's
favour stands that monstrous libertine Bardelys, I deemed it wiser
to afford shelter to this outrageous retinue. His steward - a
flabby, insolent creature - says that Bardelys left them last night
near Mirepoix, to ride hither, bidding them follow to-day. Curious
that we should have no news of him! That he should have fallen
into the Garonne and drowned himself were too great a good fortune
to be hoped for."

The bitterness with which he spoke of me afforded me ample cause
for congratulation that I had resolved to accept the role of Lesperon.