as drinking with the landlord, and his watch seems
lax."

"No, monsieur! The landlord was drinking with Capus, whom he had paid
five gold Henris to cut all our saddlery to-night, especially the
reins; the only saddlery to be spared is that of mademoiselle."

I whistled low, and Pierrebon, diving into his pocket, pulled out five
gold pieces, saying: "Here is the money, monsieur, which Capus begs to
inquire if he may keep."

"And five more besides, Pierrebon, and I beg his pardon for doubting
him. But what about the stranger?"

"That too is known, monsieur, and I was about to tell you. Whilst the
landlord was drinking with Capus I made my way to the kitchen, where my
reception was chill, so I took myself out into the garden, and
wandering down a pathway heard a whinny. 'Soh!' said I to myself,
'that is a nag there!' Sure enough there was, and I was about to step
up to it when I heard a sound behind me, and heard someone coming up,
and saw the light of a lantern. It is dark, as you know, monsieur, and
I stepped back into the shadow, and lay there concealed. Presently the
men--there were two of them--came up. One was the ostler, and the
other the Vicomte de Ganache, to whom you, monsieur, lent your horse
this morning."

"Are you sure?" I asked with a breath.

"Perfectly, monsieur. I saw the light on his face; and there was the
brown horse----"

"Did they say anything?"

"Nothing of import, monsieur. M. le Vicomte, like a good soldier, was
seeing to his beast. When they had attended to him they went back, I
following slowly. There is a door leading into the kitchen, and they
entered by this, the ostler, however, shutting the slide of his
lantern, and leaving it in the angle of the wall. It was careless of
him, monsieur, and it is here now." And Pierrebon smiled.

"Now, Pierrebon, think again: are you sure that nothing of import
passed between the two?"

"Nothing, monsieur; they spoke of the horse--not a word about us. All
that the Vicomte said, as they were leaving, was that he would make all
arrangements at midnight; he means, perhaps, to start then. If so, he
will need his lantern."

But I scarce heard Pierrebon's last words. The key of the rose petals
had come to my hand. De Ganache had either arranged to meet, or to
escape with, mademoiselle at twelve. This was the secret of it all, I
was sure.

CHAPTER XVII

MADEMOISELLE DECIDES

So the rubber between De Ganache and myself ha