been observing the flogging with disapproval, and who had followed
her into the courtyard.

"He is too brave a man to die like this, Bellecour," put in the
newcomer. "I doubt if he can survive the punishment he has already
received. Yet I would ask you, in the name of courage, to give him
the slender chance he may have."

"I promised him he should be flogged to death - " began the Marquis,
when Des Cadoux and Mademoiselle jointly interrupted him to renew
their intercessions.

"But, sangdieu," the Marquis protested "you seem to forget that he
has killed one of my servants."

"Why, then, you should have hanged him out of hand, not tortured
him thus," answered Des Cadoux shortly.

For a moment it almost seemed as if the pair of them would have
fallen a-quarrelling. Their words grew more heated, and then,
while they were still wrangling, the executioner came forward to
solve matters with the news that the secretary had expired. To
Bellecour this proved a very welcome conclusion.

"Most opportunely!" he laughed "Had the rascal lived another minute
I think we had quarrelled, Cadoux." He turned to the servant, "You
are certain that it is so?" he asked.

"Look, Monsieur," said the fellow, as he pointed with his whip to
the pilloried figure of La Boulaye. The Marquis looked, and saw