to try the mettle of Montluc's gift to me, and so I told the men
to go on quietly, and then, turning Lizette, followed Diane at an easy
canter. As I did so, and felt the power of the long, swinging stride
beneath me I smiled to myself whilst I watched the little Norman my
charge rode stretching himself like a greyhound. Once more Diane
looked back; and then I accepted the challenge, and gave the dun a free
rein.

The country here was a wide horseshoe-shaped plain, fringed with a
network of ravines, and rising gently towards Lencloitre. It was for
the most part barren, but at intervals there were long brown and green
patches of broom, the yellow tufts swaying in the breeze. Here and
there the late rain had left pools of water, flashing like mirrors in
the sunlight; and away to the north-west, in dark green and grey
against the sky, stretched the undulating lands of higher Poitou. Far
in front of me mademoiselle rode, the white feathers in her hat
fluttering like a bird, and little puffs of dust rising beneath her
horse's hoofs. For a moment I thought she had made good her word to
Montluc--but for a moment only. Sarlaboux was right when he said I had
chosen the best horse in Poitou. She was more than that--she was one
of the best horses in France, and only once was she ever beaten, but it
was not on this occasion. As she raced along the green of the broom,
the flashing lights on the pools, and the white plain, all seemed to
mingle in a grey haze. Soon I could make out more than a white plume
and a cloud of dust before me. Yard by yard we crept up; and then
mademoiselle heard the beat of following hoofs, and called to her
horse, and the brave beast replied gallantly. But there was little
use. He was no match for the big dun mare, and at last there was one
effort more, and I was by Diane's side.

"This is not the road, mademoiselle!" I cried; but for answer she
struck her beast with her whip, and then I laughed cheerfully, and our
glances met. It was enough, and in a few yards she had reined up, and
the little horse she rode, still full of fire, was pawing the earth,
and switching his foam-flecked sides with his tail, whilst Diane was
looking at me with tightened lip and a flush on her cheeks.

It was not for me to upbraid or to openly say that I had realised she
had attempted to escape, and so I contented myself by remarking drily
that the plain beyond was unsafe, and that there was better ground on
the ro