t wild doings go on at Bigot's chateau out at
Charlesbourg; or, again, in the storm of yesterday he may have been
lost. You see, there are the hundred chances; so I determined not to
trust wholly to him. There was one other way--to seek the Governor
myself, open my heart to him, and beg for a reprieve. To-night at nine
o'clock--it is now six, Robert--we go to the Chateau St. Louis, my
mother and my father and I, to sup with the Governor. Oh, think what I
must endure, to face them with this awful shadow on me! If no word come
of the reprieve before that hour, I shall make my own appeal to the
Governor. It may ruin me, but it may save you; and that done, what
should I care for the rest? Your life is more to me than all the world
beside." Here she put both hands upon my shoulders and looked me in the
eyes.

I did not answer yet, but took her hands in mine, and she continued:
"An hour past, I told my mother I should go to see my dear friend Lucie
Lotbiniere. Then I stole up to my room, put on my brother's uniform, and
came down to meet Voban near the citadel, as we had arranged. I knew he
was to have an order from the Governor to visit you. He was waiting, and
to my great joy he put the order in my hands. I took his coat and wig
and cap, a poor disguise, and came straight to the citadel, handing the
order to the soldiers at the gate. They gave it back without a word,
and passed me on. I thought this strange, and looked at the paper by the
light of the torches. What was my surprise to see that Voban's name had
been left out! It but gave permission to the bearer. That would serve
with the common soldier, but I knew well it would not with Gabord or
with the commandant of the citadel. All at once I saw the great risk I
was running, the danger to us both. Still I would not turn back. But how
good fortune serves us when we least look for it! At the commandant's
very door was Gabord. I did not think to deceive him. It was my purpose
from the first to throw myself upon his mercy. So there, that moment,
I thrust the order into his hand. He read it, looked a moment, half
fiercely and half kindly, at me, then turned and took the order to the
commandant. Presently he came out, and said to me, 'Come, m'sieu', and
see you clip the gentleman dainty fine for his sunrise travel. He'll get
no care 'twixt posting-house and end of journey, m'sieu'.' This he said
before two soldiers, speaking with harshness and a brutal humour. But
inside the c