ear that I could make out their words. It seemed
that an endless length of time passed in this way. I heard no more of
Madame and the maid. Finally the Captain and his man walked back toward
the house. I rose, stretched my legs, and peered up and down the walk.
It was deserted. What was I to do next? I naturally strolled toward the
chateau. As I neared the door leading to Madame's apartments, out came
Mathilde.

"I have been watching for you, Monsieur. Madame had to come in, to avoid
suspicion. If you can get back to the terrace by the way you came down,
I will go again and distract the attention of the guard."

"I can do that. But what of Madame? I must see her again. We must find
some way to save her."

"Do what you can, Monsieur. If you think of anything, you know how to
communicate with us by way of the windows. But lose no time now."

She hastened away to beguile the man on watch at the steps. When I heard
her laughter, I sped over the grass to the foot of the bank. I clambered
up, crossed the balustrade, went along the house, and entered the hall.
Monsieur de Pepicot was just in the act of saying "Checkmate."

The Count's face turned a shade more ashen, and he looked unhappy.
Presently he smiled, however, and said peevishly:

"Well, you must give me an opportunity of revenge. We must play another
game."

"I shall be much honoured," said Monsieur de Pepicot. "But is there time
to-day?"

"No; it will soon be supper time. But there will be time to-morrow. You
shall stay here to-night."

"With great pleasure; but there are some poor things of mine at the
cabaret yonder I should like to have by me."

"I will send a man for your baggage," said the Count.

"Then I shall have nothing to mar my happiness," said Monsieur de
Pepicot composedly.

I was very anxious to remain at the chateau for the present, and feared
rather dismissal than the enforced continuance there which the
long-nosed man had fancied might be our fate. So, to make sure, I said:

"If Monsieur the Count will do me the honour of a game to-morrow, I will
try to make a better contest than I did against Monsieur de Pepicot."

The Count looked not displeased at this; it gave him somebody to beat in
the event of his being again defeated by Monsieur de Pepicot.

"Certainly," said he; "I cannot refuse you. You too will remain my
guest; and if I may send for your baggage also--"

I felt vaguely that it would be better to leave my horse and belong