brief, was the manner of my resurrection. For a week or so I
still kept my chamber; then one day towards the middle of April, the
weather being warm and the sun bright, Michelot assisted me to don my
clothes, which hung strangely empty upon my gaunt, emaciated frame, and,
leaning heavily upon my faithful henchman, I made my way below.

In the salon I found the Chevalier de Canaples with Mesdemoiselles and
Andrea awaiting me, and the kindness wherewith they overwhelmed me, as
I sat propped up with pillows, was such that I asked myself again and
again if, indeed, I was that same Gaston de Luynes who but a little
while ago had held himself as destitute of friends as he was of fortune.
I was the pampered hero of the hour, and even little Genevieve had a
sunny smile and a kind word for me.

Thereafter my recovery progressed with great strides, and gradually, day
by day, I felt more like my old vigorous self. They were happy days, for
Mademoiselle was often at my side, and ever kind to me; so kind was she
that presently, as my strength grew, there fell a great cloud athwart my
happiness--the thought that soon I must leave Canaples never to return
there,--leave Mademoiselle's presence never to come into it again.

I was Monsieur de Montresor's prisoner. I had learned that in common
with all others, save those at Canaples, he deemed me dead, and that,
informed of it by a message from St. Auban, he had returned to Paris
on the day following that of my journey to Reaux. Nevertheless, since
I lived, he had my parole, and it was my duty as soon as I had regained
sufficient strength, to journey to Paris and deliver myself into his
hands.

Nearer and nearer drew the dreaded hour in which I felt that I must
leave Canaples. On the last day of April I essayed a fencing bout with
Andrea, and so strong and supple did I prove myself that I was forced to
realise that the time was come. On the morrow I would go.

As I was on the point of returning indoors with the foils under my arm,
Andrea called me back.

"Gaston, I have something of importance to say to you. Will you take a
turn with me down yonder by the river?"

There was a serious, almost nervous look on his comely face, which
arrested my attention. I dropped the foils, and taking his arm I went
with him as he bade me. We seated ourselves on the grass by the edge of
the gurgling waters, and he began:

"It is now two months since we came to Blois: I, to pay my court to
the wea