rtyard of the castle. Madame la Comtesse de
Grandlieu, leaning on the arm of her daughter, the duke and Marquise de
Noirmoutier mounted the grand staircase in silence, for the stern brow
of the master had awed the servants. Though Baron d'Artagnon now knew
that Gabrielle had evaded his guards, he assured the duke she was a
prisoner, for he trembled lest his own private scheme should fail if the
duke were angered by this flight. Those two terrible faces--his and the
duke's--wore a fierce expression that was ill-disguised by an air of
gallantry imposed by the occasion. The duke had already sent to his son,
ordering him to be present in the salon. When the company entered it,
d'Artagnon saw by the downcast look on Etienne's face that as yet he did
not know of Gabrielle's escape.

"This is my son," said the old duke, taking Etienne by the hand and
presenting him to the ladies.

Etienne bowed without uttering a word. The countess and Mademoiselle de
Grandlieu exchanged a look which the old man intercepted.

"Your daughter will be ill-matched--is that your thought?" he said in a
low voice.

"I think quite the contrary, my dear duke," replied the mother, smiling.

The Marquise de Noirmoutier, who accompanied her sister, laughed
significantly. That laugh stabbed Etienne to the heart; already the
sight of the tall lady had terrified him.

"Well, Monsieur le duc," said the duke in a low voice and assuming a
lively air, "have I not found you a handsome wife? What do you say to
that slip of a girl, my cherub?"

The old duke never doubted his son's obedience; Etienne, to him, was the
son of his mother, of the same dough, docile to his kneading.

"Let him have a child and die," thought the old man; "little I care."

"Father," said the young man, in a gentle voice, "I do not understand
you."

"Come into your own room, I have a few words to say to you," replied the
duke, leading the way into the state bedroom.

Etienne followed his father. The three ladies, stirred with a curiosity
that was shared by Baron d'Artagnon, walked about the great salon in a
manner to group themselves finally near the door of the bedroom, which
the duke had left partially open.

"Dear Benjamin," said the duke, softening his voice, "I have selected
that tall and handsome young lady as your wife; she is heiress to the
estates of the younger branch of the house of Grandlieu, a fine old
family of Bretagne. Therefore make yourself agreeable; remember