Until they were well beyond Nantes, Rupert rode behind the marquis, but when they reached the open country he moved up alongside.

“I do not know when I have enjoyed a week so much as the time we spent at the Chace, Rupert.  Your grandfather is a wonderful old man, as hard as iron; and your lady mother was most kind and cordial.  She clearly bore no malice for my interference in her love affair some years ago.”

“Upon the contrary,” Rupert said.  “I am sure that she feels grateful to you for saving her from the consequences of her infatuation.”

Six days later, the travellers rode into Poitiers.  They had met with no misadventure on the way.  Once or twice they had met parties of rough fellows, but the determined bearing and evident strength of master and man had prevented any attempt at violence.

The next morning they started early, and after two hours’ riding approached the cottage where Adele had for two years lived with her old nurse.  They dismounted at the door.

“Go you in, sir,” said Rupert.  “I will hold the horses.  Your daughter will naturally like best to meet you alone.”

The marquis nodded, lifted the latch of the door, and went in.  There was a pause, and then he heard a cry of “Father!” just as the door closed.  In another instant it opened again, and Margot stole out, escaping to leave her mistress alone with her father.

She ran down to the gate, looked at Rupert, and gave a little scream of pleasure, leaping and clapping her hands.

“I said so, monsieur.  I always said so.  ’When monsieur le marquis comes, mademoiselle, you be sure monsieur l’Anglais will come with him.’”

“And what did mademoiselle used to say?”

“Oh, she used to pretend she did not believe you would.  But I knew better.  I knew that when she said, over and over again, ’Is my father never coming for me?’ she was thinking of somebody else.  And are you come to take her away?”

Rupert nodded.

The girl’s face clouded.

“Oh, how I shall miss her!  But there, monsieur, the fact is—­the fact is—­”

“You need not pretend to be shy,” Rupert said, laughing.  “I can guess what ‘the fact is.’  I suppose that there is somebody in your case too, and that you are just waiting to be married till mademoiselle goes.”

Margot laughed and coloured, and was going to speak, when the door opened, and the marquis beckoned him in.

“Mr. Holliday,” he said, as Rupert on entering found Adele leaning on her father’s shoulder, with a rosy colour, and a look of happiness upon her face.  “I have laid my commands upon my daughter, Mademoiselle Adele de Pignerolles, to receive you as her future husband, and I find no disposition whatever on her part to defy my authority, as she has that of his Majesty.

“There, my children, may you be happy together!”

So saying, he left the room, and went to look after the horse, leaving Adele and Rupert to their new-found happiness.