.

The man nodded, and went on his errand, while I and M. d'Agen, with
Maignan, remained standing outside the gate, looking idly over the
valley and the brown woods through which we had ridden in the early
morning. My eyes rested chiefly on the latter, Maignan's as it proved on
the former. Doubtless we all had our own thoughts. Certainly I had,
and for a while, in my satisfaction at the result of the attack and
the manner in which we had Bruhl confined, I did not remark the gravity
which was gradually overspreading the equerry's countenance. When I did
I took the alarm, and asked him sharply what was the matter. 'I don't
like that, your Excellency,' he answered, pointing into the valley.

I looked anxiously, and looked, and saw nothing.

'What?' I said in astonishment.

'The blue mist,' he muttered, with a shiver. 'I have been watching it
this half-hour, your Excellency. It is rising fast.'

I cried out on him for a maudlin fool, and M. d'Agen swore impatiently;
but for all that, and despite the contempt I strove to exhibit, I felt
a sudden chill at my heart as I recognised in the valley below the same
blue haze which had attended us through yesterday's ride, and left us
only at nightfall. Involuntarily we both fell to watching it as it
rose slowly and more slowly, first enveloping the lower woods, and then
spreading itself abroad in the sunshine. It is hard to witness a bold
man's terror and remain unaffected by it; and I confess I trembled.
Here, in the moment of our seeming success, was something which I had
not taken into account, something against which I could not guard either
myself or others!

'See!' Maignan whispered hoarsely, pointing again with his linger. 'It
is the Angel of Death, your Excellency! Where he kills by ones and twos,
he is invisible. But when he slays by hundreds and by thousands, men see
the shadow of his wings!'

'Chut, fool!' I retorted with, anger, which was secretly proportioned to
the impression his weird saying made on me. 'You have been in battles!
Did you ever see him there? or at a sack? A truce to this folly,' I
continued. 'And do you go and inquire what food we have with us. It may
be necessary to send for some.'

I watched him go doggedly off, and knowing the stout nature of the man
and his devotion to his master, I had no fear that he would fail us; but
there were others, almost as necessary to us, in whom I could not place
the same confidence. And these had also taken th