first half
unconsciously, to try and read the meaning of the signal, for such it
was I was sure. In the light of her last words, the sting of which
still remained with me, I was certain that she had not played with the
rose petals idly. I began to go back. She had told Montluc she would
escape at the first chance. She had made the attempt this very day,
but had apparently accepted defeat. Shortly after coming to the inn
there had been a decided change in her manner. Then she had grown
friendly again, and finding this fail her had broken out into open
defiance. I put all this with the little incident of the window, and
her open statement, made in heat, that she had friends who would help
her to escape--an escape that would lead her into the jaws of the wolf,
if she would but understand. Nevertheless, I could make nothing of it,
and so for the present gave up guessing, determining to do all I could
to protect her, and to leave the rest in the hands of Fate. The
landlord coming in at this moment I requested him to send Pierrebon to
me, and to show me the way to my chamber. Taking up one of the candles
from the table he led me across the room, and along a narrow passage,
on one side of which my room was, and then, saying he would send
Pierrebon, and wishing me "good-night" with a sulky civility, the man
went. Shortly after I heard steps along the passage, there was a knock
at my door, and Pierrebon entered. He wore his cloak thrown over his
shoulder so as to conceal his left arm and hand, and I could see from
the expression of his face that he had news of some kind.

"What is it, Pierrebon?" I asked.

For answer he shut the door carefully, and placing his cloak on the
floor put beneath it a small dark lantern, saying as he did so: "I have
made free to borrow this, monsieur, as I think, perhaps, it may be
needed."

"Then you have found out something?"

"I think so, monsieur." And he dropped his voice. "After your warning
I set about trying to discover our stranger, but could find no trace of
him. Capus and Poltrot, however, had seen him, and told me he had a
horse; but there was no horse in the stables, and at first I thought
that he might have gone."

"What about our horses?" I interrupted. "Does anyone watch them?"

"Yes, monsieur; we have old soldiers with us, and Poltrot and Bahuzet
watch them, whilst Capus and the Hainaulter Cuyp watch the house--all
four turn and turn about.

"Capus, however, w