Naturally I looked at
her, and our eyes met. Hers brown and beautiful, shining in the light
of the lamp overhead looked into mine. Her lips were half parted, and
one fair tress of hair had escaped from her hood. "M. de Caylus, will
you do me a favour," she resumed, softly, "a favour for which I shall
always be grateful?"

I sighed. "Madame," I said earnestly, for I felt the solemnity of the
occasion, "I swear that in ten minutes, if the task I now have in hand
be finished I will devote my life to your service. For the present--"

"Well, for the present? But it is the present I want, Master
Discretion."

"I must see M. de Pavannes! I am pledged to it," I ejaculated.

"To see M. de Pavannes?"

"Yes."

I was conscious that she was looking at me with eyes of doubt, almost
of suspicion.

"Why? Why?" she asked with evident surprise. "You have restored--and
nearly frightened me to death in doing it--his wife to her home; what
more do you want with him, most valiant knight-errant?"

"I must see him," I said firmly. I would have told her all and been
thankful, but the priest was within hearing--or barely out of it; and I
had seen too much pass between him and Bezers to be willing to say
anything before him.

"You must see M. de Pavannes?" she repeated, gazing at me.

"I must," I replied with decision.

"Then you shall. That is exactly what I am going to help you to do,"
she exclaimed. "He is not here. That is what is the matter. He went
out at nightfall seeking news of his wife, and crossed the river, the
Coadjutor says, to the Faubourg St. Germain. Now it is of the utmost
importance that he should return before morning--return here."

"But is he not here?" I said, finding all my calculations at fault.
"You are sure of it, Madame?"

"Quite sure," she answered rapidly. "Your brothers will have by this
time discovered the fact. Now, M. de Caylus, Pavannes must be brought
here before morning, not only for his wife's sake--though she will be
wild with anxiety--but also--"

"I know," I said, eagerly interrupting her, "for his own too! There is
a danger threatening him."

She turned swiftly, as if startled, and I turned, and we looked at the
priest. I thought we understood one another. "There is," she answered
softly, "and I would save him from that danger; but he will only be
safe, as I happen to know, here! Here, you understand! He must be
brought here before daybreak, M. de Caylus. He m