s had
been graduated from the stables, therefore his courage never rose to
sublime heights. All the way down the stairs he lamented; and each time
he turned his head and saw the glitter of the revolver barrel he choked
with terror.

"If you do not kill me, Monsieur, he will; he will, I know he will!
My God, how did it happen? He will kill me!" and the voice sank into a
muffled sob.

Despite the gravity of the situation, Maurice could not repress his
laughter. "He will not harm you; he threatened you merely to delay me.
Open the door." He stepped out into the refreshing air. "By the way,
tell your master not to go to the trouble of having me arrested, for the
first thing in the morning I shall place a sealed packet in the hands
of the British minister, to be opened if I do not call for it within
twenty-four hours. And say to your master that I shall keep the rose."

"Mon Dieu! A woman! I might have known!" ejaculated Francois, as the
door banged in his face.

Maurice, on reaching the pavement, took to his legs, for he saw three
men rapidly approaching. Perhaps they had heard the pistol shot. He
concluded not to wait to learn. He continued his rush till he gained his
room. It was two o'clock. He had been in the Colonel's room nearly three
hours. It seemed only so many minutes. He hunted for his brandy, found
it and swallowed several mouthfuls. Then he dropped into a chair from
sheer exhaustion. Reaction laid hold of him. His hands shook, his legs
trembled, and perspiration rolled down his cheek.

"By George!" This exclamation stood alone, but it was an Odyssey. He
remained stupefied, staring at his shoes, over which his stockings had
fallen. His shirt buttons were gone, and the bosom was guiltless of its
former immaculateness. After a time he became conscious of a burning
pain in the elbow of his right arm. He glanced down at his hand, to find
it covered with drying blood. He jumped up and cast about his clothes.
One leg of his trousers was soaked, and the dull ache in his thigh
told the cause. He salved the wounds and bound them in strips of
handkerchiefs, which he held in place by using some of the cast-off
cravats.

"That was about as close to death as a man can get and pull out. I
feel as if I had swallowed that cursed blade of his. I am an ass, sure
enough. I've always a bad cold when there's a rat about; can't smell
him. And the rascal remembered me! Will he stay in spite of my threat?
I'll hang on here till