n aroused at sight of me, it
certainly would not be long ere she experienced them, for at the Hotel
de la Couronne were those who would enlighten her.

The contemplation of the remorseful grief that might anon beset her when
she came to ponder the truth of matters, and, with that truth, those
things that at Lavedan I had uttered, filled me presently with regret
and pity. I grew impatient to reach Toulouse and tell the judges of the
mistake that there had been. My name could not be unknown to them, and
the very mention of it, I thought, should suffice to give them pause and
lead them to make inquiries before sending me to the scaffold. Yet I was
not without uneasiness, for the summariness with which Castelroux had
informed me they were in the habit of dealing with those accused of high
treason occasioned me some apprehensive pangs.

This apprehension led me to converse with my captor touching those
trials, seeking to gather from him who were the judges. I learnt then
that besides the ordinary Tribunal, a Commissioner had been dispatched
by His Majesty, and was hourly expected to arrive at Toulouse. It would
be his mission to supervise and direct the inquiries that were taking
place. It was said, he added, that the King himself was on his way
thither, to be present at the trial of Monsieur le Duc de Montmorency.
But he was travelling by easy stages, and was not yet expected for some
days. My heart, which had leapt at the news, as suddenly sank again
with the consideration that I should probably be disposed of before the
King's arrival. It would behoove me, therefore, to look elsewhere for
help and for some one to swear to my identity.

"Do you know the name of this King's Commissioner?" I asked.

"It is a certain Comte de Chatellerault, a gentleman man said to stand
very high in His Majesty's favour."

"Chatellerault!" I cried in wondering joy.

"You know him?"

"Most excellently!" I laughed. "We are very intimately acquainted."

"Why, then, monsieur, I augur you this gentleman's friendship, and that
it may pilot you through your trouble. Although--" Being mercifully
minded, he stopped short.

But I laughed easily. "Indeed, my dear Captain, I think it will,"
said I; "although friendship in this world is a thing of which the
unfortunate know little."

But I rejoiced too soon, as you shall hear.

We rode diligently on, our way lying along the fertile banks of the
Garonne, now yellow with the rustling corn. Towa