horses
did not keep up long.

Hitherto there had been no opportunity to speak of my cousin's death,
but now I informed my companions of what had happened. Both were
deeply grieved at the news, Madame Coutance especially showing more
feeling than I should have expected.

"Did he die of his wound?" she asked.

"In a measure; but chiefly from the hardships endured through hiding
from Conde."

"The prince would have forgiven him!"

"On conditions; and Henri would have refused them. My cousin was not
the best of men, but he was loyal to his friends."

"You are right," exclaimed Madame Coutance warmly; "in many ways Henri
de Lalande was a gallant gentleman. And now, what are you going to do?"

"As soon as you reach Aunay I shall join the King's friends."

"Ah!" she exclaimed with a smile, "I know you are against the prince,
but I wish you success for yourself, and if you fall, well, the
battlefield is a fit resting-place for a gentleman of France."

"I shall pray for you, Albert," whispered Marie, "that you may come
safely through every danger. I hate all this fighting and bloodshed,
and wish the country could be at peace."

"It will be soon," I answered, and then for a while we journeyed in
silence.

About four o'clock in the afternoon we reached a large village, and the
driver pulled up at the principal inn. This was the end of his stage,
and though we offered him a handsome sum of money he refused to go a
yard farther. He declared that his horses required rest, which was
true enough, and that his master had ordered him to return to St. Denis
in the morning.

"We must make the best of it," exclaimed Madame Coutance; "I daresay we
can obtain some sort of accommodation for the night."

Our reception was far from encouraging, but when the innkeeper
discovered that we were not penniless, his manner changed. The ladies
were shown into the best room, a chamber was made ready for them, and
the servants received orders to prepare a good meal. All this was
extremely pleasant, but there was a greater slice of luck to follow.
As soon as I had explained the situation he offered to solve our
difficulty. A carriage? Certainly, he had the very thing, and a team
of beautiful horses as well. Of course it would be expensive, but
then, no doubt, monsieur would be willing to pay for the privilege.

Finally it was agreed that we should start at dawn, and I went to sleep
that night with a feeling of relief. It was b