Three miles from Versailles, as they rode past a crossroad, two mounted men dashed out suddenly.

“Stand, in the king’s name!  Who are you?”

“We are travellers,” Rupert said, quietly, “and go where we will.  Who are you?”

“We are guards of the court, and we must know who you are before we suffer you to pass.  None ride at night near Versailles but with a pass.”

“I am an exception then,” Rupert said, “and I advise you not to interfere with us;” and he urged his horse a few feet in advance of his companions.

One of the horsemen seized his bridle, while another drew a pistol.

Rupert’s sword leaped from its scabbard and cut down the man who held the rein.  The other fired, but Rupert threw himself forward on the horse’s neck and the bullet whizzed over his head.  He rode at the garde, and with a heavy blow with the pommel of the sword struck him senseless from his horse.

“Now,” he said to Adele, “we can ride on again.  You are not frightened, I hope?”

“Not so frightened as I was the first time you drew sword in my behalf,” the girl said; “but it is very dreadful.  Are they killed, Rupert?”

“Not a bit of it,” Rupert said; “one has got a gash on the head which will cost him a crown in plaister, the other may have lost some teeth.  It would have been wise to have killed them, for their tale in the morning is likely to be regarded as throwing some light upon your disappearance; but I could not kill men who were only doing their duty.  At any rate we have twelve hours’ start, even if they take up the clue and pursue us on this line tomorrow.

“It is about ten miles this side of Poitiers that your mother lives, is it not, Margot?”

“Yes, Monsieur Rupert.  How surprised she will be at my arrival with my cousins.”

“Oh, we are both your cousins, are we, Margot?”

“Mademoiselle Adele is to pass as my cousin, monsieur, and I suppose you must be either another cousin, or else her brother.”

“Margot,” Adele said, “you chatter too much.”

“Do I, mademoiselle?  It is better than riding through the darkness without speaking.  I was very glad when the cloths were off the horses’ feet, for we seemed like a party of ghosts.”

“How long shall we be getting there?” Adele asked, presently.

“Six days, if we do it all with the same horses,” Rupert said; “and I am afraid to hire horses and leave them on the way, as it would look as if we were pressed for time.  No, for today we are safe—­but for today only.  Messengers will be sent in all directions with orders for our arrest.  They will take fresh relays of horses; and really our only hope is in disguise.  I propose that we go the first stage without halting as far as our horses will carry us.  I think we can get to Orleans.  There we will put them up, and take rooms.  Then Margot must slip out in her own dress and buy two peasant girls’ attire, and I will