much in the last twenty-four hours. The sun
shone brightly, with a warm west wind, and the country already showed
signs of the early spring which marked that year. If, the first hurry of
departure over, I had now leisure to feel the gnawing of anxiety and the
tortures inflicted by an imagination which, far outstripping us, rode
with those whom we pursued and shared their perils, I found two sources
of comfort still open to me. No man who has seen service can look on a
little band of well-appointed horsemen without pleasure. I reviewed the
stalwart forms and stern faces which moved beside me and comparing their
decent order and sound equipments with the scurvy foulness of the men
who had ridden north with me, thanked God, and, ceased to wonder at the
indignation which Matthew and his fellows had aroused in mademoiselle's
mind. My other source of satisfaction, the regular beat of hoofs and
ring of bridles continually augmented. Every step took us farther from
Blois--farther from the close town and reeking streets and the Court;
which, if it no longer seemed to me a shambles, befouled by one great
deed of blood--experience had removed that impression--retained an
appearance infinitely mean and miserable in my eyes. I hated and loathed
its intrigues and its jealousies, the folly which trifled in a closet
while rebellion mastered France, and the pettiness which recognised no
wisdom save that of balancing party and party. I thanked God that my
work there was done, and could have welcomed any other occasion that
forced me to turn my back on it, and sent me at large over the pure
heaths, through the woods, and under the wide heaven, speckled with
moving clouds.

But such springs of comfort soon ran dry. M. d'Agen's gloomy rage and
the fiery gleam in Maignan's eye would have reminded me, had I been
in any danger of forgetting the errand on which we were bound, and the
need, exceeding all other needs, which compelled us to lose no moment
that might be used. Those whom we followed had five hours' start. The
thought of what might; happen in those five hours to the two helpless
women whom I had sworn to protect burned itself into my mind; so that
to refrain from putting spurs to my horse and riding recklessly forward
taxed at times all my self-control. The horses seemed to crawl. The men
rising and falling listlessly in their saddles maddened me. Though I
could not hope to come upon any trace of our quarry for many hours,
perhaps fo