The peroration was broken off, for with a start as if he had been shot, Berenger cried aloud, ‘Mericour! the Abbe!’

‘Ah, Monsieur, if you know me,’ cried the young man, raising his head, ‘free me from this shame—­aid me in my mission!’

‘Loose him, fellows,’ shouted Berenger; ’Philip, a knife—­Lucy, those scissors.’

‘Tis my duty, my Lord,’ said Spinks, gruffly.  ’All vagabonds to be apprehended and flogged at the cart’s-tail, by her Grace’s special commands.  How is it to be answered to his Honour, Sir Marmaduke?’

‘Oaf!’ cried Philip, ’you durst not have used such violence had my father been at home!  Don’t you see my brother knows him?’

With hands trembling with haste, Berenger had seized the scissors that, house-wife like, hung at Lucy’s waist, and was cutting the rope, exclaiming in French, ’Pardon, pardon, friend, for so shameful a reception.’

‘Sir,’ was the reply, without a sign of recognition, ’if, indeed, you know my name, I entreat you to direct me to the chateau of Le Sieur Tistefote, whose lady was once Baronne de Ribaumont.’

‘My mother!  Ah, my friend, my friend! what would you?’ he cried in a tone of tremulous hope and fear, laying one hand on Mericour’s shoulder, and about to embrace him.

Mericour retreated from him; but the high-spirited young man crossed his arms on his breast, and gazing at the group with indignant scorn, made answer, ’My message is from her who deems herself a widow, to the mother of the husband whom she little imagines to be not only alive, but consoled.’

‘Faithful!  Faithful!’ burst out Berenger, with a wild, exultant, strangely-ringing shout.  ’Woe, woe to those who would have had me doubt her!  Philip—­Lucy—­hear!  Her truth is clear to all the world!’ Then changing back again to French, ’Ten thousand blessings on you, Mericour!  You have seen her!  Where—­how?’

Mericour still spoke with frigid politeness.  ’I had the honour to part with Madame la Baronne de Ribaumont in the town of La Sablerie, among humble, Huguenot guardians, to whom she had fled, to save her infant’s life—­when no aid came.’

He was obliged to break off, for Berenger, stunned by the sudden rush of emotion, reeled as he stood, and would have fallen but for the prompt support of Lucy, who was near enough to guide him back to rest upon the bench, saying resentfully in French as she did so, ‘My brother is still very ill.  I pray you, sir, have a care.’

She had not half understood the rapid words of the two young men, Philip comprehended them far less, and the constable and his crew of course not at all; and Spinks pushed forward among the group as he saw Berenger sink back on the bench; and once more collaring his prisoner, exclaimed almost angrily to Philip, ’There now, sir, you’ve had enough of the vagabond.  We’ll keep him tight ere he bewitches any more of you.’

This rude interference proved an instant restorative.  Berenger sprang up at once, and seizing Spink’s arm, exclaimed, ’Hands off, fellow!  This is my friend—­a gentleman.  He brings me tidings of infinite gladness.  Who insults him, insults me.’