ll I know is that the star I was born under has not
done much for me. I remember, some years ago, when I was in Italy, an
astrologer made a horoscope for me; but I have lost it."

"You do not believe in the stars, then?"

"Who can tell, mademoiselle! But a man's life is mostly of his own
making, and a woman's too for the matter of that. There is an
invariable law of Nature or of God. It is that the breaker pays, and
sooner or later all learn this."

"_Ciel_! how serious you are!" And her brown eyes met mine.

"The stars should never laugh, mademoiselle."

"They cried over me when my fortune was told."

"May I ask----"

"Oh yes!--but fortune for fortune. If I tell you mine will you tell me
yours?"

"Certainly."

"Well, mine was short: it was simply to beware of a church under the
ground and a woman in black and white. I have never seen such a church
nor ever met such a woman."

I thought of Diane of Valentinois and her favourite colours, and a
sudden chill came over me. For a moment I stood silent.

"Now for yours, monsieur," she said gaily.

"Mine! Well, it was wrapped up in long names, and I never could make
aught of it. As far as I remember, Aquarius, Mars, and Mercury are in
the ascendant, and the face of Venus is from me. In the second house
Sol is in Pisces. In the fifth Luna in Gemini, and Jupiter----"

She put her hands to her ears. "Enough, monsieur! I almost fear to
look out, lest I should see a cauldron of burning sulphur, and witches
dancing around it."

And as she spoke there came to us the distant echoes of hoarse
laughter. I recognised the voices of the landlord and Capus, my
man-at-arms.

"'Tis not Capus' business to hob-nob with the host at this hour,
mademoiselle. I had better go and see that he keeps stricter watch."

With this I made a half movement to go, but she stayed me with a little
gesture of command.

"Monsieur Broussel, I have a favour to ask of you; will you grant it?"

"Mademoiselle, all that is in my power I will do. What is it?"

For answer she stood up and placed a hand on my shoulder, her eyes
looking straight into mine. "Monsieur, a brave man like you should not
be a gaoler of women. Let me free!"

I made no reply; but as her eyes, soft and imploring, met mine all the
love in my heart rose within me. For her sake no Roman constancy would
have held me to any vow; but I knew that Montluc had spoken the truth,
I knew the danger she was in, and