in which to ponder the situation as
he now found it.

His first reflection was that Florimond, since he was now married, might
perhaps, instead of proving Valerie's saviour from Marius, join forces
with his brother in coercing her into this alliance with him. But
from what Valerie herself had told him he was inclined to think more
favourably of Florimond and to suppress such doubts as these. Still he
could incur no risks; is business was to serve Valerie and Valerie only;
to procure at all costs her permanent liberation from the power of the
Condillacs. To make sure of this he must play upon Florimond's anger,
letting him know that Marius had journeyed to La Rochette for the
purpose of murdering his half-brother. That he but sought to murder
him to the end that he might be removed from his path to Valerie, was
a circumstance that need not too prominently be presented. Still,
presented it must be, for Florimond would require to know by what
motive his brother was impelled ere he could credit him capable of such
villainy.

Succinctly, but tellingly, Garnache brought out the story of the plot
that had been laid for Florimond's assassination, and it joyed him to
see the anger rising in the Marquis's face and flashing from his eyes.

"What reason have they for so damnable a deed?" he cried, between
incredulity and indignation.

"Their overweening ambition. Marius covets Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye's
estates."

"And to gain his ends he would not stop at murdering me? Is it, indeed,
the truth you tell me?"

"I pledge my honour for the truth of it," answered Garnache, watching
him closely. Florimond looked at him a moment. The steady glance of
those blue eyes and the steady tone of that crisp voice scattered his
last doubt.

"The villains!" cried the Marquis. "The fools!" he added. "For me,
Marius had been welcome to Valerie. He might have found in me an ally
to aid him in the urging of his suit. But now--" He raised his clenched
hand and shook it in the air, as if in promise of the battle he would
deliver.

"Good," said Garnache, reassured. "I hear their steps upon the stairs.
They must not find me with you."

A moment later the door opened, and Marius, very bravely arrayed,
entered the room, followed closely by Fortunio. Neither showed much ill
effects of last night's happenings, save for a long dark-brown scar that
ran athwart the captain's cheek, where Garnache's sword had ploughed it.

They found Florimond s