“Possibly I may come to think so, in another ten years,” Desmond went on, “but, at present, I have no more thought of marrying than I have of becoming king of France.  The idea is altogether absurd, and it happens to be particularly so, in the present case, since one of the objects of my going down to Pointdexter is that I may be present at the formal betrothal of this young lady, to Monsieur de la Vallee, a neighbour of theirs, whom I had the pleasure of meeting this afternoon, and to whom she is tenderly attached.”

“By the powers, but that is unlucky, Kennedy!” O’Neil said; “and I have been thinking that your fortune was made, and that the regiment would soon lose you, as you would, of course, settle down as a magnate in Languedoc; and now, it seems that what we thought the proper sequence of your adventure, is not to come off, after all.  Well, lad, I congratulate you on putting a good face on it, and hiding your disappointment.”

“What nonsense you talk!” Desmond said, laughing.  “It is you who have been building castles, not I, and it is your disappointment that they have fallen to pieces.”

Chapter 6:  An Ambuscade.

On the morning arranged, the cavalcade started from Versailles.  The baron had instructed the stable keeper, where the carriage and horses had been placed, to notify the Vicomte de Tulle that he held them at his disposal.  The woman, who had been brought to Versailles, had been dismissed, after having made before a magistrate a deposition, stating how Mademoiselle de Pointdexter had been held a close prisoner, and that, with the exception of herself, no one whatever had entered her apartment, except that the Vicomte de Tulle had paid her a visit, of some five minutes’ duration, on the morning after she was brought there.  A copy of this was left in the magistrate’s hands for safekeeping, while the original was kept by the baron, who regarded it as a most important document, concerning, as it did, the honour of his daughter.

Anne had travelled to Paris in the family coach, and she again, with her maid, took her place in it.  The baron, Monsieur de la Vallee, and Desmond rode on horseback behind it, two armed retainers rode in front, and two others, with Mike, took their places behind.  The old servitor sat on the front seat, by the side of the coachman.

“I do not think, Desmond,” Philip de la Vallee said, as the baron fell back to talk for a while with his daughter, “that he has the slightest thought of our being attacked by any of the agents of the vicomte; but I have made a good many enquiries about the fellow, in the past few days, and from what I have heard I am still more convinced that, before long, he is likely to renew his attempt to get possession of Anne.  I hear that his circumstances are well-nigh desperate.  He has mortgaged the income of his estates, which, of course, he is unable to sell, as they go with the title to the heir.  He is pressed by many creditors, who, now that he has lost the favour of the king, will give him no further grace.  Indeed, I understand that the king, who is always liberal, and who not infrequently makes considerable gifts to the gentlemen of the court, to enable them to support the necessary expenses, has already assisted him several times, and that it was only by such aid that he has been able to hold on as long as he has done.