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yonder。 When they are insideyou understand？〃
He laid his hand on his dagger。 The muscles of the lad's face grew
tense。 I did understand him。 〃Madame；〃 I said quickly； 〃you will not
betray us？〃
She shook her head。 The colour returned to her cheek； and the
brightness to her eyes。 She was a true woman。 The sense that she was
protecting others deprived her of fear for herself。
The footsteps were on the topmost stair now； and a key was thrust with
a rasping sound into the lock。 But before it could be turnedit
fortunately fitted illwe three had jumped on the bed and were crouching
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in a row at the head of it； where the curtains of the alcove concealed； and
only just concealed us； from any one standing at the end of the room near
the door。
I was the outermost； and through a chink could see what passed。 One；
two； three people came in； and the door was closed behind them。 Three
people； and one of them a woman！ My heartwhich had been in my
mouthreturned to its place； for the Vidame was not one。 I breathed
freely； only I dared not communicate my relief to the others； lest my voice
should be heard。 The first to come in was the woman closely cloaked
and hooded。 Madame de Pavannes cast on her a single doubtful glance；
and then to my astonishment threw herself into her arms； mingling her
sobs with little joyous cries of 〃Oh； Diane！ oh； Diane！〃
〃My poor little one！〃 the newcomer exclaimed； soothing her with
tender touches on hair and shoulder。 〃You are safe now。 Quite safe！〃
〃You have come to take me away？〃
〃Of course we have！〃 Diane answered cheerfully； still caressing her。
〃We have come to take you to your husband。 He has been searching for
you everywhere。 He is distracted with grief； little one。〃
〃Poor Louis！〃 ejaculated the wife。
〃Poor Louis； indeed！〃 the rescuer answered。 〃But you will see him
soon。 We only learned at midnight where you were。 You have to thank
M。 le Coadjuteur here for that。 He brought me the news； and at once
escorted me here to fetch you。〃
〃And to restore one sister to another；〃 said the priest silkily； as he
advanced a step。 He was the very same priest whom I had seen two
hours before with Bezers； and had so greatly disliked！ I hated his pale face
as much now as I had then。 Even the errand of good on which he had
come could not blind me to his thin… lipped mouth； to his mock humility
and crafty eyes。 〃I have had no task so pleasant for many days；〃 added
he； with every appearance of a desire to propitiate。
But； seemingly； Madame de Pavannes had something of the same
feeling towards him which I had myself； for she started at the sound of his
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voice； and disengaging herself from her sister's armsit seemed it was her
sistershrank back from the pair。 She bowed indeed in acknowledgment
of his words。 But there was little gratitude in the movement； and less
warmth。 I saw the sister's facea brilliantly beautiful face it was
brighter eyes and lips and more lovely auburn hair I have never seeneven
Kit would have been plain and dowdy beside herI saw it harden
strangely。 A moment before； the two had been in one another's arms。
Now they stood apart； somehow chilled and disillusionised。 The shadow
of the priest had fallen upon themhad come between them。
At this crisis the fourth person present asserted himself。 Hitherto he
had stood silent just within the door： a plain man； plainly dressed；
somewhat over sixty and grey…haired。 He looked disconcerted and
embarrassed； and I took him for Mirepoix rightly as it turned out。
〃I am sure；〃 he now exclaimed； his voice trembling with anxiety； or it
might be with fear； 〃your ladyship will regret leaving here！ You will
indeed！ No harm would have happened to you。 Madame d'O does not
know what she is doing； or she would not take you away。 She does not
know what she is doing！〃 he repeated earnestly。
〃Madame d'O！〃 cried the beautiful Diane； her brown eyes darting
fire at the unlucky culprit； her voice full of angry disdain。 〃How dare you
such as youmention my name？ Wretch！〃
She flung the last word at him； and the priest took it up。 〃Ay； wretch！
Wretched man indeed！〃 he repeated slowly； stretching out his long thin
hand and laying it like the claw of some bird of prey on the tradesman's
shoulder； which flinched； I saw； under the touch。 〃How dare yousuch
as youmeddle with matters of the nobility？ Matters that do not concern
you？ Trouble！ I see trouble hanging over this house； Mirepoix！ Much
trouble！〃
The miserable fellow trembled visibly under the covert threat。 His face
grew pale。 His lips quivered。 He seemed fascinated by the priest's gaze。
〃I am a faithful son of the church；〃 he muttered； but his voice shook so
that the words were scarcely audible。 〃I am known to be such！ None
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better known in Paris； M。 le Coadjuteur。〃
〃Men are known by their works！〃 the priest retorted。 〃Now； now；〃
he continued； abruptly raising his voice； and lifting his hand in a kind of
exaltation； real or feigned； 〃is the appointed time！ And now is the day of
salvation！ and woe； Mirepoix； woe！ woe！ to the backslider； and to him
that putteth his hand to the plough and looketh back to…night！〃
The layman cowered and shrank before his fierce denunciation； while
Madame de Pavannes gazed from one to the other as if her dislike for the
priest were so great that seeing the two thus quarrelling； she almost
forgave Mirepoix his offence。 〃Mirepoix said he could explain；〃 she
murmured irresolutely。
The Coadjutor fixed his baleful eyes on him。 〃Mirepoix；〃