th, and seeing our determined aspects, thought
better of it. Shrugging his shoulders with an affectation of disdain
which imposed on no one, he signalled to his servants to go on, and
himself stood aside.

'I thank you for your polite offer,' he said with an evil smile, 'and
will remember it. But as you say, sir, I am not the Provost-Marshal.'

Paying little heed to his words, we bowed, passed him, and hurried on.
But the peril was not over. Not only had the RENCONTRE cost us some
precious minutes, but the Gascon, after letting us proceed a little way,
followed us. And word being passed by his servants, as we supposed, that
one of us was the murderer of Father Antoine, the rumour spread through
the crowd like wildfire, and in a few moments we found ourselves
attended by a troop of CANAILLE who, hanging on our skirts, caused Simon
Fleix no little apprehension. Notwithstanding the contempt which M.
d'Agen, whose bearing throughout was admirable, expressed for them, we
might have found it necessary to turn and teach them a lesson had we not
reached M. de Rambouillet's in the nick of time; where we found the
door surrounded by half a dozen armed servants, at sight of whom our
persecutors fell back with the cowardice which is usually found in that
class.

If I had been tempted of late to think M. de Rambouillet fickle, I had
no reason to complain now; whether his attitude was due to M. d'Agen's
representations, or to the reflection that without me the plans he had
at heart must miscarry. I found him waiting within, attended by three
gentlemen, all cloaked and ready for the road; while the air of purpose,
which sat on his brow indicated that he thought the crisis no common
one. Not a moment was lost, even in explanations. Waving me to the door
again, and exchanging a few sentences with his nephew, he gave the word
to start, and we issued from the house in a body. Doubtless the fact
that those who sought to ruin me were his political enemies had some
weight with him; for I saw his face harden as his eyes met those of M.
de Villequier, who passed slowly before the door as we came out. The
Gascon, however, was not the man to interfere with so large a party, and
dropped back; while M. de Rambouillet, after exchanging a cold salute
with him, led the way towards the Castle at a round pace. His nephew and
I walked one on either side of him, and the others, to the number of ten
or eleven, pressed on behind in a compact body, our co