ficulty, the danger to my honour--and
hers. In spite of the joy I felt at being near her, seeing her, I shrank
from the situation. If I escaped from the Seigneur Duvarney's, it would
throw suspicion upon him, upon Alixe, and that made me stand abashed.
Inside the Seigneur Duvarney's house I should now feel unhappy, bound
to certain calls of honour concerning his daughter and himself. I stood
long, thinking, Gabord watching me.

Finally, "Gabord," said I, "I give you my word of honour that I will not
put Mademoiselle or Monsieur Duvarney in peril."

"You will not try to escape?"

"Not to use them for escape. To elude my guards, to fight my way to
liberty--yes--yes--yes!"

"But that mends not. Who's to know the lady did not help you?"

"You. You are to be my jailer again there?"

He nodded, and fell to pulling his mustache. "'Tis not enough," he said
decisively.

"Come, then," said I, "I will strike a bargain with you. If you will
grant me one thing, I will give my word of honour not to escape from the
seigneur's house."

"Say on."

"You tell me I am not to go to the seigneur's for three days yet.
Arrange that mademoiselle may come to me to-morrow at dusk--at six
o'clock, when all the world dines--and I will give my word. No more do I
ask you--only that."

"Done," said he. "It shall be so."

"You will fetch her yourself?" I asked.

"On the stroke of six. Guard changes then."

Here our talk ended. He went, and I plunged deep into my great plan;
for all at once, as we had talked, came a thing to me which I shall
make clear ere long. I set my wits to work. Once since my coming to
the chateau I had been visited by the English chaplain who had been a
prisoner at the citadel the year before. He was now on parole, and had
freedom to come and go in the town. The Governor had said he might visit
me on a certain day every week, at a fixed hour, and the next day at
five o'clock was the time appointed for his second visit. Gabord had
promised to bring Alixe to me at six.

The following morning I met Mr. Stevens on the ramparts. I told him it
was my purpose to escape the next night, if possible. If not, I must go
to the Seigneur Duvarney's, where I should be on parole--to Gabord. I
bade him fulfill my wishes to the letter, for on his boldness and my
own, and the courage of his men, I depended for escape. He declared
himself ready to risk all, and die in the attempt, if need be, for he
was sick of idleness. He could,