appeared the more
surprising, because he knew she was not one to lull herself with the
assurance of a false security. To him her bright eyes said: "I am in
your care. Be yours the task now." And thus interpreting, he broke in
upon her thoughts.

"Having dined and wined so well, shall we go on, Jacqueline?"

To which she at once assented by rising, and soon they had left the
principality of the lily far in the distance. Now the road so narrowed
he fell behind. The character of the country had changed; some time
ago they had passed out of the wild forest, and had begun to traverse a
great, level plain, broken with stubble. As far as the eye could
reach, no other human figures were visible; the land outstretched,
apparently without end; no habitations dotted the landscape, and, the
sole signs of life, wheeling birds of prey, languidly floated in the
air. At length she glanced around. Was it to reassure herself the
jester rode near; that she had not, unattended, entered that forbidding
territory? Then she paused abruptly and the fool approached.

"By this time the turnkey should be relieved," she said.

"But not released," he answered, holding up the keys which he yet wore
at his girdle. "They will have to come a long distance to find them,"
he continued, and threw the keys far away upon the sward.

"They may not think of following on this road at all," she returned.
"It is the old castle thoroughfare, long since disused."

"And leads where?"

"Southward, to the main road."

"How came you to know it?" he asked, quickly.

"How--because I lived in the castle before the king built the palace
and the new thoroughfare," she answered slowly.

"You lived in the castle, then, when it was the residence of the proud
Constable of Dubrois? You must have been but a child," he added,
reflectively.

"Yes; but children may have long memories."

"In your case, certainly. How well you knew all the passages and
corridors of the castle!"

She responded carelessly and changed the conversation. The
thoroughfare broadening, for the remainder of the day they pressed
forward side by side. But a single human figure, during all those
hours, they encountered, and that when the afternoon had fairly worn
away. For some time they had pursued their journey silently, when at a
turn in the road the horse of the jester shied and started back.

At the same time an unclean, offensive-looking monk in Franciscan
attire arose sud