t into the violet evening, where the
slender sickle of the moon shone silver bright. Down below the
twilight darkled in the streets. Figures moved like shadows, and now
and again a light flashed out. Tall and slight, she stood out against
the darkening sky, her face half averted from me, and I knew not what
it was, but an almost irresistible impulse came on me to put my fortune
to the touch. But I thought of De Ganache. She was his promised wife.
I thought of what I had to offer, and this and that gave me strength,
and so I held back.

"Mademoiselle," I said with an effort, "this is our last evening, and
my wardship ends to-morrow."

"To-morrow?"

"Yes; the Queen has sent an escort to meet you at Longpont."

"She is most kind!"

"And as I may not have the chance of speaking to you alone again----"

"Why that?" she interrupted quickly. "You will be in Paris. You will
be at the Court. I counted upon having at least one friend there."

"You will have more than one friend there, mademoiselle, and more than
one enemy, I fear; but I was about to say that I leave Paris the day
after I reach there for Italy."

"For Italy?"

"Yes; I follow M. de Montluc there. You see, old as I am, I have to
begin life over again, and there is many a fair fortune yet waiting to
be sliced out of the Romagna."

She said never a word, and I continued: "It will be long ere I see
France again--perhaps never; and so, mademoiselle, I once more wish you
all that is good, and I offer my congratulations--I have not ventured
to do so before."

She spoke now. "Monsieur, I thank you! I will not pretend not to
understand your last words; but there are some good wishes that may
mean misfortune, and it grows late. Good-night!"

She slid by me, and was gone almost before I realised it.

It was just past the dawn the next morning when we left Etampes. There
were but five leagues or so to cover ere we reached Montlhery, and for
almost the whole way we could see before us the castle that crowned the
hill. At the ford of the Orge we saw a small group of horsemen, their
arms shining in the sunlight.

"'Tis the escort," said Capus, and quickening our pace we were soon
with them, and I handed over my charge to De Lorgnac.

There were with him two of the Queen's ladies--Madame de Montal, and
the bright-eyed Cypriote, Mademoiselle Davila, she who had escaped from
the sack of Cyprus--and these two immediately appropriated
mademoiselle, as