anking her with more haste than thought, and turned
towards the door, intending to go straight up to the floor above and
release mademoiselle. My hand was already on the door, which madame, I
found, had left ajar in the excitement of my entrance, when I heard her
step behind me. The next instant she touched me on the shoulder. 'You
fool!' she exclaimed, her eyes flashing, 'would you kill her?' Would you
go from him to her, and take the plague to her? God forgive me, it was
in my mind to send you. And men are such puppets you would have gone!'

I trembled with horror, as much at my stupidity as at her craft. For she
was right: in another moment I should have gone, and comprehension and
remorse would have come too late. As it was, in my longing at once
to reproach her for her wickedness and to thank her for her timely
repentance, I found no words; but I turned away in silence and went out
with a full heart.

CHAPTER XXX. STRICKEN.

Outside the door, standing in the dimness of the landing, I found M.
d'Agen. At any other time I should have been the first to ask him why he
had left the post which I had assigned to him. But at the moment I was
off my balance, and his presence suggested nothing more than that here
was the very person who could best execute my wishes. I held out the key
to him at arms length, and bade him release Mademoiselle de la Vire, who
was in the room above, and escort her out of the castle. 'Do not let
her linger here,' I continued urgently. 'Take her to the place where we
found the wood-cutters. You need fear no resistance.'

'But Bruhl?' he said, as he took the key mechanically from me.

'He is out of the question,' I answered in a low voice. 'We have done
with him. He has the plague.'

He uttered a sharp exclamation. 'What of madame, then?' he muttered.

'She is with him,' I said.

He cried out suddenly at that, sucking in his breath, as I have known
men do in pain. And but that I drew back he would have laid his hand on
my sleeve. 'With him?' he stammered. 'How is that?'

'Why, man, where else should she be?' I answered, forgetting that the
sight of those two together had at first surprised me also, as well as
moved me. 'Or who else should be with him? He is her husband.'

He stared at me for a moment at that, and then he turned slowly away
and began to go up; while I looked after him, gradually thinking out the
clue to his conduct. Could it be that it was not mademoiselle attracted
h