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and； closing the door； she called in a strangled voice too drive on。
She paid little heed to the praise that was being bestowed upon her
by her mother … who had seen nothing of the kiss。 But she lay back
in her corner of the coach； and now her lashes were wet at the
thought of Caron lying out there in the road。 Now her cheeks grew
red with shame at the thought that she； the nobly…born Mademoiselle
de Bellecour； should have allowed even pity to have so far overcome
her as to have caused her to touch with her lips the lips of a
low…bred revolutionist。
CHAPTER XIV
THE COURIER
It was well for La Boulaye that he had tethered his horse to a tree
before approaching the coach。 That solitary beast standing by the
roadside in the deepening gloom attracted the attention of his
followers； when … a half…hour or so later … they rode that way； making
for Liege； as La Boulaye had bidden them。
At their approach the animal neighed； and Garin； hearing the sound；
reined in and peered forward into the gloom； to descry the horse's
head and back outlined above the blur of the hedge。 His men halted
behind him whilst he approached the riderless beast and made … as
well as he could in the darkness … an examination of the saddle。
One holster he found empty； at which he concluded that the rider；
whoever he had been； had met with trouble； from the other he drew a
heavy pistol； which； however； gave him no clue。
〃Get down；〃 he ordered his men；〃 and search the roads hereabouts。
I'll wager a horse to a horseshoe that you will find a body
somewhere。〃
He was obeyed； and presently a cry from one of the searchers
announced a discovery。 It was succeeded by another exclamation。
〃Sacre nom！〃 swore the trooper。 〃It is the Citizen…deputy！〃
In an instant Garin had leapt to the ground and with the others
crowding about him； their bridles over their arms and their horses
in a bunch behind them； he was bending under the dripping hedge to
examine the body that lay supine in the sodden road。 A vigorous
oath escaped him when he assured himself that it was indeed La
Boulaye。
〃Is he dead？〃 cried the men in chorus。
〃No … not dead〃 grumbled the corporal。 〃But there is a lump on his
brow the size of an egg； and God knows how long he has been lying
here in this bed of mud。〃
They had no restoratives； and the only thing was to convey him to
the nearest habitation and demand shelter。 They held a short council
on the matter； and in the end Garin bade four of them take him up
and carry him in a cloak。 Some two miles back they had passed a
house； and thither the corporal now bade them retrace their steps。
They made an odd procession； first went two mounted troopers leading
the horses of the others； then the four on foot； carrying the Deputy
in a cloak； and lastly； Garin riding in the rear。
In this manner they went back along the dark road； and for close
upon a half…hour … for their progress was slow … they trudged along
in silence。 At last there was a short exclamation from one of the
riders； as half a mile away an illuminated window beamed invitingly。
Encouraged by it； they quickened their steps a little。 But almost
at the same time La Boulaye stirred on the cloak； and the men who
carried him heard him speak。 At first it was an incoherent mutter；
then his words came more distinctly。
〃Hold！ Where are you carrying me？ Who the devil are you？〃
It was Garin's voice that came instantly to reassure him。 Caron
essayed to sit up； but finding it impracticable； he shortly bade
his men set him down。 They halted。 Garin dismounted and came to
the Deputy's side； and it was found that his condition was none so
grave after all； for he was able to stand unaided。 When； however；
he attempted to walk； he reeled； and would of a certainty have
fallen； but that Garin put out his arm to support him。
〃Steady there； Citizen；〃 the corporal admonished him。
〃Get my horse！〃 he commanded briefly。
〃But； name of a name！ you are not fit to ride；〃 Garin protested。
La Boulaye； however； would listen to no reason。 With the recovery
of his faculties came the consideration of how miserably Suzanne had
duped him； and of how she had dealt with him when he had overtaken
her。 He burned now to be avenged； and at all costs he would ride
after and recapture her。 He announced； therefore； to the corporal
that they must push on to Liege。 Garin gasped at his obstinacy；
and would have sought to have dissuaded him； but that La Boulaye
turned on him with a fierceness that silenced his expostulations。
It was left to Nature to enforce what Garin could not achieve。 When
La Boulaye came to attempt to mount he found it impossible。 He was
stiff and numb from his long exposure in the rain； and when he moved
with any vigour his head swam dizzily and throbbed with pain。
At last he was forced to realise … with inward girding … that he
must relinquish his determination； and he acknowledged himself ready
to take the corporal's advice and make for the house whose lighted
window shone like a beacon in the darkness that had descended。 He
even allowed them to prevail upon him to lie down in the cloak again；
and thus they carried him the remainder of the way。 In his heart he
still bore the hope that short rest； restoratives； and fresh clothes
would fit him for the pursuit once more； and that if he set out
within the next few hours he might yet come up with Mademoiselle
before she had passed beyond his reach。 Should the morning still
find him unequal to the task of going after her； he would despatch
Garin and his men。
At last they reached the cottage … it was little more … and Garin
rapped on the door with his whip。 It was opened by a woman； who
told them； in answer to the corporal's request for shelter； that
her husband was from home； and that she had no accommodation for
them。 It would seem that the woman had housed soldiers of the
Republic before； and that her experiences had not been of a nature
calculated to encourage her in the practice。 But La Boulaye now
staggered forward and promised her generous payment if she would
receive them。
〃Payment？〃 she cried。 〃In worthless assignats that nobody will take
from me。 I know the ways of you。〃
〃Not in assignats；〃 La Boulaye promised her； 〃but in coin。〃
And having mollified her somewhat with that assurance； he proceeded
to urge her to admit them。 Yonder was a shed where the horses could
be stabled for the night。 But still the woman demurred。
〃I lack the room；〃 she said； with some firmness。
〃But at least；〃 put in Garin； 〃you could house the Citizen here。
He has been hurt； and he is scarcely able to stand。 Come； woman；
if you will consent to that； we others can lie with the horses in
the shed。〃
This in the end they gained by renewed promises of good payment。
She brewed a broth for them； and for La Boulaye she found a suit
of her absent husband's clothes； whilst his own wet garments were
spread to dry before the fire。 Some brandy； too； she found and
brought him； and the draught did much to restore him。
When they had supped； Garin and the troopers withdrew to the
outhouse； leaving La Boulaye in sole poss