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where she would have fallen an easy victim。 Bezers； who knew Madame
d'O； prevented that。 Then that fiend slipped back with her knife； thinking
that in the common butchery the crime would be overlooked； and never
investigated； and that Mirepoix would be silent！〃
I said nothing。 I was stunned。 Yet I believed the story。 When I
went over the facts in my mind I found that a dozen things； overlooked at
the time and almost forgotten in the hurry of events； sprang up to confirm
it。 M。 de Pavannes'the other M。 de Pavannes'suspicions had been well
founded。 Worse than Bezers was she？ Ay！ worse a hundred times。
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As much worse as treachery ever is than violence； as the pitiless fraud of
the serpent is baser than the rage of the wolf。
〃I thought；〃 Croisette added softly； not looking at me； 〃when I
discovered that you had gone off with her； that I should never see you
again； Anne。 I gave you up for lost。 The happiest moment of my life I
think was when I saw you come back。〃 〃Croisette；〃 I whispered
piteously； my cheeks burning； 〃let us never speak of her again。〃
And we never didfor years。 But how strange is life。 She and the
wicked man with whom her fate seemed bound up had just crossed our
lives when their own were at the darkest。 They clashed with us； and；
strangers and boys as we were； we ruined them。 I have often asked
myself what would have happened to me had I met her at some earlier and
less stormy periodin the brilliance of her beauty。 And I find but one
answer。 I should bitterly have rued the day。 Providence was good to me。
Such men and such women； we may believe have ceased to exist now。
They flourished in those miserable days of war and divisions； and passed
away with them like the foul night…birds of the battle… field。
To return to our journey。 In the morning sunshine one could not but
be cheerful； and think good things possible。 The worst trial I had came
with each sunset。 For thenwe generally rode late into the evening
Louis sought my side to talk to me of his sweetheart。 And how he would
talk of her！ How many thousand messages he gave me for her！ How
often he recalled old days among the hills； with each laugh and jest and
incident； when we five had been as children！ Until I would wonder
passionately； the tears running down my face in the darkness； how he
couldhow he could talk of her in that quiet voice which betrayed no
rebellion against fate； no cursing of Providence！ How he could plan for
her and think of her when she should be alone！
Now I understand it。 He was still labouring under the shock of his
friends' murder。 He was still partially stunned。 Death seemed natural
and familiar to him； as to one who had seen his allies and companions
perish without warning or preparation。 Death had come to be normal to
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him； life the exception； as I have known it seem to a child brought face to
face with a corpse for the first time。
One afternoon a strange thing happened。 We could see the Auvergne
hills at no great distance on our leftthe Puy de Dome above themand
we four were riding together。 We had fallenan unusual thingto the
rear of the party。 Our road at the moment was a mere track running
across moorland； sprinkled here and there with gorse and brushwood。
The main company had straggled on out of sight。 There were but half a
dozen riders to be seen an eighth of a league before us； a couple almost as
far behind。 I looked every way with a sudden surging of the heart。 For
the first time the possibility of flight occurred to me。 The rough
Auvergne hills were within reach。 Supposing we could get a lead of a
quarter of a league； we could hardly be caught before darkness came and
covered us。 Why should we not put spurs to our horses and ride off？
〃Impossible！〃 said Pavannes quietly； when I spoke。
〃Why？〃 I asked with warmth。
〃Firstly；〃 he replied； 〃because I have given my word to go with the
Vidame to Cahors。〃
My face flushed hotly。 But I cried； 〃What of that？ You were taken
by treachery！ Your safe conduct was disregarded。 Why should you be
scrupulous？ Your enemies are not。 This is folly？〃
〃I think not。 Nay；〃 Louis answered； shaking his head； 〃you would
not do it yourself in my place。〃
〃I think I should；〃 I stammered awkwardly。
〃No； you would not； lad；〃 he said smiling。 〃I know you too well。 But
if I would do it； it is impossible。〃 He turned in the saddle and； shading
his eyes with his hand from the level rays of the sun； looked back intently。
〃It is as I thought；〃 he continued。 〃One of those men is riding grey Margot；
which Bure said yesterday was the fastest mare in the troop。 And the
man on her is a light weight。 The other fellow has that Norman bay
horse we were looking at this morning。 It is a trap laid by Bezers； Anne。
If we turned aside a dozen yards； those two would be after us like the
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wind。〃
〃Do you mean；〃 I cried； 〃that Bezers has drawn his men forward on
purpose？〃
〃Precisely； was Louis's answer。 〃That is the fact。 Nothing would
please him better than to take my honour first； and my life afterwards。
But； thank God； only the one is in his power。〃
And when I came to look at the horsemen； immediately before us； they
confirmed Louis's view。 They were the best mounted of the party： all
men of light weight too。 One or other of them was constantly looking
back。 As night fell they closed in upon us with their usual care。 When
Bu