He bowed serenely, his lips smiling.

"Aye, madame," he told her pleasantly, "always Garnache. Tenacious
as a leech, madame; and like a leech come hither to do a little
work of purification."

Her eyes, now kindling again as she recovered from her recent fears,
sought Fortunio's shifty glance. Garnache followed it and read
what was in her mind.

"What Fortunio has done," said he, "he has done by your son's
authority and sanction."

"Marius?" she inquired, and she was almost fearful lest she should
hear that by her son he meant her stepson, and that Marius was dead.

"Yes, Marius," he answered her. "I bent him to my will. I
threatened him that he and this fellow of his, this comrade in arms
so worthy of his master, should be broken on the wheel together
unless I were implicitly obeyed. If they would save their lives,
this was their chance. They were wise, and they took it, and thus
afforded me the means of penetrating into Condillac and rescuing
Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye."

"Then Marius - ?" She left her question unfinished, her hand
clutching nervously at the bosom of her gown.

"Is sound and well, as Fortunio truthfully will have told you. But
he is not yet out of my grasp, nor will be until the affairs of
Condillac are settled. For if I meet with further opposition here,