“There, do not stop to thank me.  I hear horses’ hoofs.  Gallop away, please; it would ruin all were you caught here.”

Rupert pressed the hands the two ladies held out to him to his lips, mounted his horse, and rode furiously back to Versailles, where he arrived just in time to leave again for Paris at the hour beyond which their stay was not to be delayed.

Chapter 19:  The Evasion.

Upon the ride from Versailles to Paris Rupert told the marquis what he had done and heard.

“It is bad news, Rupert.  I will ride back this afternoon, when I have lodged you in Paris, and see Adele.  If she objects—­as I know she will object to this marriage—­I shall respectfully protest.  That any good will come of the protest I have no thought, but my protest may strengthen Adele’s refusal, by showing that she has her father’s approval.

“Adele will of course be treated coldly at first, then she will have pressure put upon her, then be ordered to choose between a convent and marriage.  She will choose a convent.  Now in some convents she could live quietly and happily, in others she would be persecuted.  If she is sent to a convent chosen for her, it will be worse than a prison.  Her life will be made a burden to her until she consents to obey the king’s command.  Therefore, my object will be to secure her retreat to a convent where she will be well treated and happy.  But we will talk of this again.”

It was not until the following afternoon that the marquis returned from Versailles.

“I am off to the front again,” he said.  “I had an audience with his Majesty this morning, and respectfully informed him of my daughter’s incurable repugnance to the Duc de Carolan, and of her desire to remain single until at least she reached the age of twenty.  His Majesty was pleased to say that girls’ whims were matters to which it behoved not to pay any attention.  He said, however, that for the present he would allow it to remain in abeyance, and that he begged me to see Adele, and to urge upon her the necessity for making up her mind to accept his Majesty’s choice.  He also said that the news from the army was bad, that good officers were urgently required there, and that it would be therefore advisable for me to repair at once to the front and again take the command of my regiment.  He said that he wished me to take you with me as far as Lille, and that you should there take up your residence.”

“Of course I will accompany you, sir,” Rupert said; “but I will withdraw my parole as soon as you hand me over, and take my chance of escaping.”

“Yes, I should do that, Rupert, indeed, as you gave your parole to me, you can give it back to me now, if you choose.  I will run the risk of some little anger on the part of the king, if you quit me on your way to Lille and make the best of your way to the frontier.”

“No, I thank you,” Rupert said.  “There can’t be much difficulty in escaping from a town when one wants to do so; and it would do you an evil turn indeed to incense the king against you at the present time.”