through having delayed my departure by a single
day, did it come to pass that a message reached me before it might have
been too late.

It was high noon of the morrow. Our horses stood saddled; indeed, some
of my men were already mounted--for I was not minded to disband them
until Beaugency was reached--and my two coaches were both ready for the
journey. The habits of a lifetime are not so easy to abandon even when
Necessity raises her compelling voice.

I was in the act of settling my score with the landlord when of a sudden
there were quick steps in the passage, the clank of a rapier against the
wall, and a voice--the voice of Castelroux--calling excitedly "Bardelys!
Monsieur de Bardelys!"

"What brings you here?" I cried in greeting, as he stepped into the
room.

"Are you still for Beaugency?" he asked sharply, throwing back his head.

"Why, yes," I answered, wondering at this excitement.

"Then you have seen nothing of Saint-Eustache and his men?"

"Nothing."

"Yet they must have passed this way not many hours ago." Then tossing
his hat on the table and speaking with sudden vehemence: "If you have
any interest in the family of Lavedan, you will return upon the instant
to Toulouse."

The mention of Lavedan was enough to quicken my pulses. Yet in the
past two days I had mastered resignation, and in doing that we school
ourselves to much restraint. I turned slowly, and surveyed the little
Captain attentively. His black eyes sparkled, and his moustaches
bristled with excitement. Clearly he had news of import. I turned to the
landlord.

"Leave us, Monsieur l'Hote," said I shortly; and when he had departed,
"What of the Lavedan family, Castelroux?" I inquired as calmly as I
might.

"The Chevalier de Saint-Eustache left Toulouse at six o'clock this
morning for Lavedan."

Swift the suspicion of his errand broke upon my mind.

"He has betrayed the Vicomte?" I half inquired, half asserted.

Castelroux nodded. "He has obtained a warrant for his apprehension from
the Keeper of the Seals, and is gone to execute it. In the course of a
few days Lavedan will be in danger of being no more than a name. This
Saint-Eustache is driving a brisk trade, by God, and some fine prizes
have already fallen to his lot. But if you add them all together, they
are not likely to yield as much as this his latest expedition. Unless
you intervene, Bardelys, the Vicomte de Lavedan is doomed and his family
houseless."

"I will interv