‘I am glad to hear you say so,’ I answered,
’for it makes it easier for me to say that I
wish to go my own way, and to have nothing more to
do with you. What you have just said frees me
from the bond of gratitude which held me back.’
’I have no doubt that you would like to have
nothing more to do with me,’ he cried.
’You will wish it more heartily still before
you finish. Very well, sir, go your own way and
I will go mine, and we shall see who comes out the
best in the end.’
A group of hussars were standing by their horses’
heads in the gateway. In a few minutes I had
packed my scanty possessions, and I was hastening
with them down the corridor when a chill struck suddenly
through my heart at the thought of my cousin Sibylle.
How could I leave her alone with this grim companion
in the old castle? Had she not herself told me
that her very life might be at stake? I had stopped
in my perplexity, and suddenly there was a patter
of feet, and there she was running towards me.
‘Good-bye, Cousin Louis,’ she cried, with
outstretched hands.
‘I was thinking of you,’ said I; ’your
father and I have had an explanation and a quarrel.’
‘Thank God!’ she cried. ’Your
only chance was to get away from him. But beware,
for he will do you an injury if he can!’
‘He may do his worst; but how can I leave you
here in his power?’
’Have no fears about me. He has more reason
to avoid me than I him. But they are calling
for you, Cousin Louis. Good-bye, and God be with
you!’
THE CAMP OF BOULOGNE
My uncle was still standing at the castle gateway,
the very picture of a usurper, with our own old coat-of-arms
of the bend argent and the three blue martlets engraved
upon the stones at either side of him. He gave
me no sign of greeting as I mounted the large grey
horse which was awaiting me, but he looked thoughtfully
at me from under his down-drawn brows, and his jaw
muscles still throbbed with that stealthy rhythmical
movement. I read a cold and settled malice in
his set yellow face and his stern eyes. For
my own part I sprang readily enough into the saddle,
for the man’s presence had, from the first, been
loathsome to me, and I was right glad to be able to
turn my back upon him. And so, with a stern
quick order from the lieutenant and a jingle and clatter
from the troopers, we were off upon our journey.
As I glanced back at the black keep of Grosbois,
and at the sinister figure who stood looking after
us from beside the gateway, I saw from over his head
a white handkerchief gleam for an instant in a last
greeting from one of the gloomy meurtriere windows,
and again a chill ran through me as I thought of the
fearless girl and of the hands in which we were leaving
her.
