e to enhance the joyful
surprise he had in store for me. 'Come,' he said presently, drawing me
to the window, 'let me show you some more of your old friends.'

I looked out, and saw below me in the courtyard my three horses drawn up
in a row, the Cid being bestridden by Simon Fleix, who, seeing me, waved
a triumphant greeting. A groom stood at the head of each horse, and on
either side was a man with a torch. My companion laughed gleefully.
'It was Maignan's arrangement,' he said. 'He has a quaint taste in such
things.'

After greeting Simon Fleix a hundred times, I turned back into the room,
and, my heart overflowing with gratitude and wonder, I begged M. de
Rosny to acquaint me with the details of mademoiselle's escape.

'It was the most simple thing in the world,' he said, taking me by the
hand and leading me back to the hearth. 'While you were engaged with
the rascals, the old woman who daily brought mademoiselle's food grew
alarmed at the uproar, and came into the room to learn what it was.
Mademoiselle, unable to help you, and uncertain of your success, thought
the opportunity too good to be lost. She forced the old woman to show
her and her maid the way out through the garden. This done, they ran
down a lane, as I understand, and came immediately upon the lad with the
horses, who recognised them and helped them to mount. They waited some
minutes for you, and then rode off.'

'But I inquired at the gate,' I said.

'At which gate?' inquired M. de Rosny, smiling.

'The North-gate, of course,' I answered.

'Just so,' he rejoined with a nod. 'But they went out through the
West-gate and made a circuit. He is a strange lad, that of yours below
there. He has a head on his shoulder, M. de Marsac. Well, two leagues
outside the town they halted, scarcely knowing how to proceed. By good
fortune, however, a horse-dealer of my acquaintance was at the inn.
He knew Mademoiselle de la Vire, and, hearing whither she was bound,
brought her hither without let or hindrance.'

'Was he a Norman?' I asked,

M. de Rosny nodded, smiling at me shrewdly. 'Yes,' he said, 'he told
me much about you. And now let me introduce you to my wife, Madame de
Rosny.'

He led me up to the lady who had risen at my entrance, and who now
welcomed me as kindly as she had before looked on me, paying me many
pleasant compliments. I gazed at her with interest, having heard much
of her beauty and of the strange manner in which M. de Rosny, being
en