Chapter 12: An Escape From Prison.
Glancing half round, as he turned away from the wine shop, Philipsaw Raoul and two of his companions rising. He walked off in aleisurely manner and, a few paces farther, turned down a sidestreet. He heard steps following him, and then a voice said:
"Hold, young sir. I would have a word with you."
Philip turned, with an expression of angry surprise.
"Are you addressing me, sir? I would have you know that am notaccustomed to be spoken to, in that fashion; and that I bear aninsult from no one."
Raoul laughed.
"Are you equally particular, sir, when you are going about inpeasant's clothes?"
"I am not good at riddles, sir," Philip said haughtily, "and canonly suppose that your object is to pick a quarrel with me; thoughI am not conscious of having given you offence. However, thatmatters little. I suppose you are one of those gallants who airtheir bravery when they think they can do so, with impunity. On thepresent occasion you may, perchance, find that you are mistaken. Iam a stranger here, and know of no place where this matter can besettled, nor am I provided with a second; but I am quite content toplace myself in the hands of one of these gentlemen, if they willact for me."
"I am sure, Raoul, there is some mistake," Louis began, putting hishand on his cousin's shoulder.
But the other shook it off, angrily. He was of a passionate andoverbearing temper, and Philip's coolness, and the manner in whichhe had turned the tables upon him and challenged him to a duel,inflamed him to the utmost.
"Hands off, Louis," he said. "Do you think that I, Raoul deFontaine, am to be crowed over by this youth? He has challenged meto fight, and fight he shall."
"You provoked him," Louis said firmly. "You gave him provocationsuch as no gentleman of honour could suffer. It was not for thisthat I came out with you, but because you said that you wished tounravel what may be a plot."
"I will cut it, which will be easier than unravelling it," Raoulreplied. "It is shorter and easier work, to finish the matter witha sword thrust, than to provide for his being swung at the end of arope."
"We had best waste no time in empty braggadocio," Philip saidcoldly, "but proceed at once to some quiet spot, where this mattercan be settled, undisturbed."
"I think the young gentleman is right," Monsieur D'Estanges, agentleman of the court, said gravely. "The matter has gone too farfor anything else, now; and I am bound to say that your adversary,of whose name I am ignorant, has borne himself in a manner to meritmy esteem; and that, as your cousin will of course act for you, Ishall be happy to place my services at his disposal."
"Let us get beyond the gates," Raoul said abruptly, turning on hisheel, and retracing his steps up the lane to the main street.
"I thank you, sir, for offering to stand by one of whose very nameyou are ignorant," Philip said as, accompanied by MonsieurD'Estanges, he followed the others. "It is, however, right that youshould know it. It is Philip Fletcher. On my father's side I amEnglish, on my mother's I am of noble French blood, being cousin toFrancois de Laville, whose mother and mine were daughters of theCount de Moulins."
"Two distinguished families of Poitou," Monsieur D'Estanges said,courteously. "It needed not that, to tell me that you were of goodblood. I regret much that this encounter is going to take place.Monsieur Raoul de Fontaine was in the wrong, in so rudely hailingyou, and I cannot blame you for taking it up sharply; although,seeing your age and his, and that he is a good swordsman, it mighthave been more prudent to have overlooked his manner.
"Unless, indeed," and he smiled, "Monsieur Raoul was right, andthat you are engaged on some weighty matter here, and preferred torun the risk of getting yourself killed rather than have itinquired into. The Countess of Laville and her son are both staunchHuguenots, and you may well be on business here that you would notcare to have investigated.
"You have not asked my name, sir. It is Charles D'Estanges. I am acousin of the Duc de Guise, and am naturally of the court party;but I can esteem a brave enemy, and regret to see one engaged in anencounter in which he must needs be overmatched."
"I am a fair swordsman, sir," Philip said; "though my arm may lacksomewhat of the strength it will have, a few years later. But hadit been otherwise, I should have still taken the course I have. Ido not say your conjecture is a correct one, but at any rate Iwould prefer the most unequal fight to being seized and questioned.One can but be killed once, and it were better that it should be bya thrust in the open air than a long imprisonment, ending perhapswith death at the stake."
Monsieur D'Estanges said no more. In spite of his relationship withthe Guises he, like many other French Catholic nobles, disapprovedof the persecutions of the Huguenots, and especially of themassacres perpetrated by the lower orders in the towns, men forwhom he had the profoundest contempt. He felt sorry for hiscompanion, whose youth and fearless demeanour moved him in hisfavour; and who, he doubted not, had come to Agen to confer withsome of the Huguenots, who were to be found in every town.
Issuing from the gates, they went for a quarter of a mile along theroad, and then Raoul led the way into a small wood. Here, without aword being spoken, Raoul and Philip threw aside their cloaks anddoublets.
"Gentlemen," Monsieur D'Estanges said, "surely this quarrel mightbe arranged without fighting. Monsieur de Fontaine addressed myprincipal, doubtless under a misapprehension, with some roughness,which was not unnaturally resented. If Monsieur de Fontaine willexpress his regret, which he certainly could do without loss ofdignity, for the manner in which he spoke; my principal would, I amsure, gladly accept his apology."
"That is my opinion also," Louis de Fontaine said, "and I havealready expressed it to my cousin."
"And I have already said that I will do nothing of the sort," Raoulsaid. "I am fighting not only in my own quarrel, but in that of theking; being well assured in my mind that this young man, whether hebe, as he now appears, a gentleman of birth, or whether, as I sawhim last, a peasant boy, is engaged in some plot hostile to hismajesty."
"Then there is nothing more to be said," Monsieur D'Estanges saidgravely; "but before you begin, I may tell you, Monsieur deFontaine, that this gentleman belongs to a family no less noblethan your own. He has confided to me his name and position, which Ithink it as well not to divulge.
"Now, Louis, we may as well stand aside. We have done our best tostop this quarrel, and to prevent what I cannot but consider a mostunequal contest from taking place."
The last words were galling, in the extreme, to Raoul de Fontaine.Monsieur D'Estanges stood high at court, was a gentleman ofunblemished reputation, and often appealed to on questions ofhonour; and this declaration that he considered the combat to be anunequal one was the more irritating, since he was himself consciousof the fact. However, he could not recoil now but, with an angryexpression of face, drew his sword and stood on guard.
Philip was no less ready. The easy attitude he assumed, with hisweight for the most part on his left leg, differed so widely fromthe forward attitude then in fashion among French duellists, thatMonsieur D'Estanges, convinced that he knew nothing of swordplay,shrugged his shoulders pityingly. The moment, however, that theswords grated against each other; and Philip put aside, with asharp turn of the wrist, a lunge with which his opponent intendedat once to finish the combat, the expression of his face changed.
"The lad did not speak boastfully, when he said he was a fairswordsman," he muttered to himself. "He does not fight in ourfashion, but at least he knows what he is about."
For some minutes the fight continued, Raoul's temper rising higherand higher, as he found every attack baffled by a foe he haddespised, and who refused to fall back even an inch, however hotlyhe pressed him. He had at first intended either to wound or disarmhim, but he soon fought to kill. At last there was a fierce rally,ending by Philip parrying a home thrust and, returning it withlightning swiftness, running Raoul de Fontaine through the bodywith such force that the hilt of his sword struck against hischest, and he sank
lifeless to the ground.
"By our Lady, young gentleman," Monsieur D'Estanges exclaimed, "butyou have done well! You said that you were a fair swordsman. Trulyyou are of the highest class. Raoul's temper has led him into manya duel, and he has always wounded or killed his man. Who could havethought that he would receive his death blow at the hands of ayouth?
"But whom have we here? Peste! This is awkward."
As he spoke, Count Darbois, the governor of Agen, with a body oftroopers, rode up. He had ridden to within a mile or two of Neracand, questioning persons from the town, learned that everything wasquiet there, and that no fresh body of Huguenots had arrived. Hewas on his way back when, hearing the clash of swords, he hadridden into the wood to inquire into its meaning.
"What is this?" he exclaimed.
"Why, what is this, Monsieur De Fontaine? Your cousin, Count Raoul,dead!"
Louis, who was leaning over his cousin, looked up.
"Alas! I fear that it is so, Monsieur le Comte. My poor cousin hasfallen in a duel."
"What a misfortune, and at such a moment! Is it not scandalousthat, at a time like this, when every gentleman's sword is neededin defence of our king and faith, they should indulge in privatequarrels?
"And is it you, Monsieur D'Estanges, who has done his majesty thisbad service?"
For by this time Philip had resumed his doublet and cloak.
"No. I only stood as second to his opponent, who has behaved fairlyand honourably in the matter, as I am sure Count Louis willtestify."
"Your word is quite sufficient, Monsieur D'Estanges. And who isthis gentleman, who has thus slain one who had no mean reputationas a swordsman?"
"A young gentleman passing through Agen. The quarrel arose througha rencontre in the street. Count Raoul was, as was his nature,hasty, and put himself in the wrong. The gentleman resented hislanguage, and a meeting was at once arranged. Count Louis andmyself were with Raoul, and as his opponent was alone, and it wasnot desirable to draw others into the matter, I offered to act ashis second; and he accepted it, at once. We came here. Count Louisand I made a final effort to persuade Raoul to apologize for hislanguage. He refused to do so, and they fought, and you see theconsequence."
"But who is this stranger?" the governor asked again.
"Count Raoul did not feel it necessary to ask, count; and I think,as he waived the point, and the affair is now terminated, it wouldbe well that his opponent should be permitted to withdraw withoutquestions."
"That is all very well for you, Monsieur D'Estanges, as a party ina private quarrel; but as governor of Agen, it is my duty tosatisfy myself as to who this stranger, who has killed an officerof the king, may be."
He turned his horse, and for the first time obtained a view ofPhilip; who, seeing the impossibility of escape, had been standingquietly by.
"Why, it is but a youth!" he exclaimed. "You say he slew CountRaoul in fair fight, Monsieur D'Estanges?"
"In as fair a fight as ever I saw, Monsieur le Comte."
"Who are you, sir?" the governor asked Philip.
"I am a stranger, travelling through Agen on private business,"Philip said quietly.
"But what is your name and family, sir?"
"I am English," Philip replied. "My name is Philip Fletcher."
"A Huguenot, I will be bound?" the governor said angrily.
"Not at all, count. I am of the religion of my nation--aProtestant."
"It is the same thing," the governor said. "It is clear that, forwhatever purpose you may be in Agen, you are here for no good.
"This is a serious matter, Monsieur D'Estanges."
"As I have said, I know nothing of this gentleman, count. I saw himfor the first time a little over half an hour ago, and on everyaccount I wish that I had not seen him. He has killed my friendRaoul, deprived his majesty of a staunch adherent, and has gothimself into trouble. But for all that, I am assured, by hisconduct and bearing in this business, that he is an honourablegentleman; and I intreat you, as a personal favour, count, that youallow him to go free."
"I would do much to oblige you, Monsieur D'Estanges; but he is anEnglishman and a Protestant, by his own confession, and thereforecan only be here to aid the men who have risen in rebellion, and toconspire with the king's enemies. He will be placed in close chargeand, when the present pressing affairs have been put out of hand, Idoubt not we shall find means of learning a good deal more aboutthis mysterious person, who claims to be English, but who yetspeaks our language like a Frenchman."
"As to that matter, I can satisfy you at once," Philip said. "Mymother was a French lady, a daughter of the Count de Moulins ofPoitou."
"A Huguenot family, if I mistake not," the governor said, coldly."Well, we have other things to think of, now.
"Captain Carton, place two troopers one on each side of thisperson. I authorize you to cut him down, if he tries to escape. Letfour others dismount, and carry the body of the Count de Fontaineinto the city.
"You will, of course, take the command of his troop, Count Louis;seeing that, if I mistake not, you are his nearest relative, andthe heir to his possessions."
As Philip was led through the streets he caught sight of Pierre,who made no sign of recognition as he passed. He was taken to thecastle, and confined in a room in a turret, looking down upon theriver. The window was closely barred, but otherwise the room,though small, was not uncomfortable. It contained a chair, a table,and a couch.
Philip in prison.]
When the door was barred and bolted behind him, Philip walked tothe window and stood looking out at the river. The prospect seemeddark. The governor was unfavourably disposed towards him now; andwhen the news came, on the morrow, that the Queen of Navarre hadslipped through his fingers, his exasperation would no doubt bevented on him. What was now but a mere suspicion, would then becomealmost a certainty; and it would, as a matter of course, be assumedthat he was there on matters connected with her flight. That he wasa Protestant was alone sufficient to condemn him to death, but hisconnection with the queen's flight would, beyond all question, sealhis fate.
Pierre, he felt sure, would do all that he could for him; but thatcould amount to almost nothing. Even if he had the means of filingthrough or removing the bars, it would need a long stout rope toenable him to descend to the water's edge, a hundred feet belowhim; and that he could obtain possession of either file, or rope,seemed to him as absolutely impossible.
"Nevertheless," he said to himself, "I will let Pierre know where Iam confined. I do not see that it can do any good. But he is afellow of resource. I have great faith in him and, though I can seeno possible plan of escape, he, being without, may try something.
"I have no doubt that his first endeavour will be to find out whereI am confined. I warrant he will know my cap, if he sees it. He hasan eye like a hawk and, if he sees anything outside one of thewindows, he will suspect at once that it is a signal; and when heonce looks closely at it, he will make out its orange tint andthese three long cock's feathers."
So saying, he thrust one of his arms through the bars with the cap,which he allowed to hang down against the wall below. There hestood for two hours, closely examining every boat that came along.At last he saw one rowed by two men, with a third sitting in thestern; and had no difficulty in making out, as it came closer, thatthis was Pierre, who was gazing at the castle.
Presently he saw him suddenly clap his hands, and speak to therowers. These did not look up, but continued to row on in the sameleisurely way as before; nor did Pierre again glance at the castle.
Satisfied that his signal had been observed, Philip withdrew it,but continued to watch the boat. It went half a mile higher up,then turned and floated quietly down the stream again. When he hadseen it pass the bridge, he threw himself down on the couch.
"There is nothing more for me to do," he said. "The matter is inPierre's hands, now."
He listened for a time to the tramp of a sentry, backwards andforwards outside his door; and then fell off to sleep, from whichhe di
d not awake until he heard the bars withdrawn, and the keyturned in the lock. Then a man accompanied by two soldiers entered,and placed a chicken, a bottle of wine, and a loaf of bread on thetable.
"Monsieur D'Estanges sends this, with his compliments," he said;and then Philip was again left alone.
Two hours after it became dark he thought he heard a confusedsound, as of the trampling of a number of horsemen in the courtyardof the castle. He went to the door and, placing his ear against it,was convinced that he was not mistaken.
"That looks as if an expedition were about to start somewhere," hesaid. "If they are bound for Nerac, they will arrive there toolate; for the queen will, by this time, be setting out. They cannotintend to scale the walls tonight, and the gates will have beenshut long ago. They are probably going into ambush, somewhere near,so as to ride in in the morning.
"I wish I could be certain they are bound in that direction. Therewas certainly no idea of an expedition this morning, but it ispossible that the messenger with the order for the arrest of thequeen and prince may have arrived this afternoon, and the governoris losing no time.
"I trust it is so, and not that news has come, from some spy atNerac, that she will leave the place tonight. If it is so, thisparty may be setting out to strengthen the guards on the river; orto occupy the roads by which she would travel, were her purpose tojoin the seneschal.
"I trust that Pierre and the others are on the alert, and notwasting their time in thinking about me; and that, if this troopmake along the river, they will ride to warn the queen in time.Hearing nothing, she will assume that the road is clear, and thatshe can go on fearlessly.
"It is enough to drive one mad, being cooped up here when the wholesuccess of the cause is at stake."
The character of the sentry's walk had changed. He had beenrelieved some four hours before, and his walk at times ceased, asif he were leaning against the wall to rest himself, while at timeshe gave an impatient stamp with his feet.
"I expect they have forgotten to relieve him," Philip said tohimself. "If a strong body has gone out, that might very well be."
Another half hour passed, and then he heard steps ascending thestone staircase, and the sentry exclaimed angrily:
"Sapristie, comrade, I began to think I was going to be kept allnight at my post, and that everyone had ridden out with that partythat started, half an hour ago.
"Now, then, the orders are: 'Permit no one to approach. Refuse evento allow officers to visit the prisoner, without a special order ofthe governor.' That is all.
"Now I am off for a tankard of spiced wine, which I think I haveearned well, for it is a good hour after my time of relief."
Then Philip heard his footsteps descending the stairs, while theman who had relieved him walked briskly up and down in front of thedoor. In a minute or two he stopped, then Philip turned with astart from the window at which he was standing, as he heard throughthe keyhole a loud whisper:
"Monsieur Philip, are you asleep? It is I!"
"Why, Pierre!" he exclaimed, running to the door and putting hismouth to the keyhole; "how did you come here?"
"I will tell you that later, master. The thing is now to get youout. The bolts here are easy enough to draw, but this lock puzzlesme. I have brought up two thin saws and an auger, and thought tocut round it; but there is a plate of iron outside."
"And there is one inside too, Pierre. How about the hinges,Pierre?"
"There is no doing anything with them, master. The ironwork goesright across the door. There is nothing for it, but to cut rightround the iron plate."
"That won't take very long, if the saws are good, Pierre."
Philip heard a rasping sound and, in a short time, the auger passedthrough the woodwork. Two other holes adjoining the first were soonmade, and then the end of a saw was pushed through.
"If you can make a hole large enough at the bottom of the plate,Pierre, and pass me the other saw through, I can work that way tomeet you."
"It would take too long to make, sir. I have plenty of oil, and itwon't take me long to saw round the plate. I only brought thesecond saw in case the first should break. But this oak is prettynearly as hard as iron."
It took over an hour's work before the cut was complete. When itwas nearly finished, Pierre said:
"Be ready to seize the piece that is cut out, as soon as I amthrough with it, master; otherwise it may fall down, as the dooropens, and make a clatter that will be heard all over the castle."
As the last piece was sawn through Philip pressed the door and, asit opened, seized the portion cut out, drew it backward, and laidit gently on the stone floor. Then he rose, and grasped Pierre'shand.
"My brave Pierre, you have accomplished what I thought was animpossibility. Now, what is the next thing to be done?"
"The next thing is to unwind this rope from my body. It is lucky Iam so lean that it did not make me look bulky. It is not verythick, but it is new and strong, and there are knots every twofeet. Roger is waiting for us below, in a boat."
"Where is Jacques?"
"Jacques has ridden off. He learned, before sunset, that orders hadbeen issued for the troops to assemble. He and Roger had taken thefour horses beyond the walls, an hour after you were arrested; andhad left them at a farmer's, a mile away. So he arranged with methat he should follow the troop on foot; which he could do, asthere are footmen as well as horse in the party that has gone out.Then, as soon as he discovered which way they were going, he wouldslip off and make for the farmhouse and mount. If they were boundfor Nerac, he will wait for us at the point on the other side ofthe river. If they follow the river down, he will ride at fullspeed, make a circuit, and warn the queen of the danger. He willhave plenty of time to do that, as the column will have to move atthe pace of the infantry."
"That is a load off my mind, Pierre."
While they were speaking they had unwound the rope, fastened oneend to the battlement, and lowered the other down.
"I will go first, master. I am the lightest, and will steady therope for you, from below."
In two or three minutes Philip felt that the rope was no longertight, and at once swung himself over and lowered himself down. Thewater washed the foot of the wall, and he stepped directly into theboat; which Roger was keeping in its place with a pole, whilePierre held the rope. An exclamation of thankfulness broke from thetwo men, as his feet touched the gunwale of the boat; and then,without a word, Roger began to pole the boat along against thetide, keeping close to the foot of the wall.
Once fairly beyond the castle, the pole was laid in and the two mentook the oars, and the boat shot across the river. Then they rowedup under the opposite bank, until a voice from above them said:
"Is all well--is Monsieur Philip with you?"
"All is well, Jacques," Philip exclaimed, delighted; for the factthat his follower was there showed that the troops had gone in thedirection that did not threaten the safety of the queen.
They leapt ashore and pushed the boat off, to allow it to floatdown with the stream.
It was a mile to the spot where the horses had been left. On theway, Philip heard how his escape had been effected.
"I saw you go out from the town, monsieur; and could not, for thelife of me, make out what was going to happen. I did not know thegentleman you were walking with, but I recognized the two in frontof you as the officers of the troop that had questioned us, nearBazas. One of them was talking angrily to the other. As it seemedto me that you were going willingly, and not as a prisoner; andespecially as you were going out of the town, I thought that it wasmy business to wait until you returned.
"I saw, half an hour, later some horsemen coming up the street, andsomeone said that it was the governor, who had been out with aparty. It gave me a bad turn, when I saw you walking as a prisonerin the middle of them. I saw you glance at me, but of course madeno sign; and I followed until you entered the castle.
"When I was walking away, I saw a crowd. Pushing forward, I foundthey were surrounding fo
ur soldiers who were carrying a body ontheir shoulders, and made out at once it was the officer who hadbeen talking so angrily to his companion. Then I understood whathad puzzled me before, and what you had gone outside the walls for.
"The rest was easy to guess. The governor had come along, you hadbeen questioned, and had been arrested as a Huguenot. It wasevident that no time was to be lost and that, if you were to be gotout, it must be done quickly.
"I hurried away to the cabaret where Jacques and Roger weredrinking. We talked the matter over, and agreed that the firstthing was to get the four horses out of the town. So I went to theinn where you had put up, said I was your servant, paid thereckoning, and took away the horse. Then I got my own and joinedthe other two, who were mounted and ready. They each took a horseand rode off, settling to leave them at some farmhouse a shortdistance away, explaining there that the town was so full theycould find no room for them.
"Directly they had started, I set off to have a look round thecastle. The great thing was to know where they had lodged you. Ifit was in a cell looking outward, I thought that, knowing I shouldbe searching for you, you would make a signal. If I could seenothing, I determined to accost some servant coming out from thecastle; to make acquaintance with him and, over a bottle of wine,to find out in what part of the castle you were lodged.
"On the land side I could see nothing, and then went back andwaited till Jacques and Roger returned. Then we took a boat and, asyou know, rowed up; and I soon made out your cap outside the wall.
"Then, as we rowed back, we arranged matters. Jacques was to carryout your former orders: find out about the movement of troops, andwarn the queen if danger threatened. Roger was to be at the foot ofthe wall with a boat, as soon as it became dark. I was to undertaketo get you out.
"The first thing to do was to get a rope. This I carried to a quietplace on the wall, knotted it, and put it round me under mydoublet. Then there was nothing to do but to wait. I went severaltimes to hear if Jacques had any news, and was glad when he told methat most of the troops were ordered to be under arms, at eighto'clock. This would make matters simpler for me for, with numbersof people going in and coming out of the castle, it would be easyto slip in unnoticed.
"As soon as it was dark, Jacques and I went down a lane; and hegave me his steel cap and breast piece, and took my cap inexchange. Then I went up towards the castle. The gates were open,and I was told that they would not be closed until midnight; as somany were coming out and going in, and there was no hostile forceanywhere in these parts. Presently, numbers of gentlemen began toarrive with their retainers, and I soon went in with a party offootmen.
"The courtyard was full of men, and I was not long before I foundthe staircase leading up to the top of the wall, on the river side.I went boldly up and, halfway, found a door partly open. Lookingin, I saw that it was evidently used by some gentlemen who had gonedown, in haste, to join the party below; so I shut the door andwaited. I heard the troops start and guessed, from the quiet thatfollowed, that the greater portion of the garrison had left.
"I felt pretty sure that there would be a sentry at your door, andwaited until the time I thought he would be expecting a relief.Then I went up. He was in a mighty hurry to get down, and did notstop to see who I was, or to ask any questions; which was well forhim, for I had my knife in my hand, and should have stabbed himbefore he could utter a cry. Everything went off well, and you knowthe rest, sir."
"You managed wonderfully, Pierre. I thought over every plan bywhich you might aid me to escape, but I never thought of anythingso simple as this. Nor, indeed, did I see any possible way of yourfreeing me.
"How are we going to get our horses? The farmer will think that weare a party of thieves."
"They are in an open shed," Jacques said. "I told the farmer thatour reason for bringing them out of the town was that you mighthave to start with orders, any time in the night; and that it wouldbe troublesome getting them out from town stables, and having thegates opened for them to pass out; while, on foot, you could issuefrom the postern without trouble. I paid him for the corn when Ileft them."
The horses, indeed, were got out without any stir in the houseindicating that its occupants were awakened.
"Give me your sword, Pierre," Philip said, as he mounted. "I trustthat we shall meet with no enemies on the road; still we may do so,and I should not like to be unarmed. You have your arquebus."
This had been brought in the boat by Roger, and on landing Pierrehad exchanged the steel cap and breast piece for his own cap.
The road to Villeneuve D'Agenois was a cross-country one, and wouldbe impossible to follow in the dark. Consequently, after keeping onthe main road for half an hour, they turned off a road to theright, rode until they came to a wood, and there alighted.
"Shall I light a fire, sir?" Pierre asked.
"It is not worth while, Pierre. It must be getting on for midnightnow, and we must be in the saddle again, at daybreak. By this timethey have, no doubt, found that I have escaped. The first time theysend up a man to relieve you, the open door will be noticed. Theywill certainly make no search tonight, and tomorrow they will havesomething else to think about; for doubtless some spy at Neracwill, as soon as the gates are open, take the news to thegovernor's party that the queen has left."
Two hours' brisk ride, in the morning, took them within sight ofVilleneuve D'Agenois. Riding across the bridge over the river Lot,he entered the town. The street was full of troops; and threegentlemen, standing at the door of an inn, looked with suspicion onthe gay colouring of Philip's costume and, as he alighted, theystepped forward to accost him.
"May I ask who you are, sir?" one said advancing; "and what is yourbusiness here?"
"Certainly you may," Philip said, as he dismounted. "My name isPhilip Fletcher. I am here at the order of her majesty, the Queenof Navarre; who, I trust, has arrived here safely."
"The queen arrived here three hours since, Monsieur Fletcher; and Imay say that she did you the honour to inquire, at once, if agentleman of your name had arrived."
"I should have met her at the river near Tonneins, but the governorof Agen laid an embargo on me. Yet, thanks to these three faithfulfellows, I got safely out of his clutches."
"We shall march in an hour, Monsieur Fletcher and, as soon as thequeen is up, I will see that she is acquainted with your coming.
"Allow me to introduce myself, first--Gaston de Rebers. Breakfastis ready in this cottage, and we were about to sit down when we sawyou riding up. I shall be glad if you will share it with us. Theseare my comrades, Messieurs Duvivier, Harcourt, and Parolles."
He then called a sergeant.
"Sergeant, see that Monsieur Fletcher's servant and men-at-armshave a good meal."
"I think they must want it," Philip said. "They have been so busy,in my service, that I doubt if they have eaten since breakfastyesterday. I myself supped well, thanks to the courtesy of MonsieurD'Estanges, who was good enough to send up an excellent capon, anda bottle of wine to my cell."
"You know Monsieur D'Estanges?" Gaston de Rebers asked courteously."He is a gentleman of high repute and, though connected with theGuises, he is said to be opposed to them in their crusade againstus."
"I had only the honour of meeting him yesterday," Philip said, asthey sat down to table; "but he behaved like a true gentleman, anddid me the honour of being my second, in an unfortunate affair intowhich I was forced."
"Who was your opponent, may I ask, sir?"
"Count Raoul de Fontaine."
"A doughty swordsman!" Gaston de Rebers exclaimed; "but one of ourbitterest opponents in this province. You are fortunate, indeed, tohave escaped without a serious wound; for he has been engaged inmany duels, and but few of his opponents have escaped with theirlives."
"He will neither persecute you, nor fight more duels," Philip saidquietly; "for I had the misfortune to kill him."
The others looked at him with astonishment.
"Do I understand rightly, Monsieur Fletcher, that y
ou have slainRaoul de Fontaine in a duel?"
"That is the case," Philip replied. "Monsieur D'Estanges, as I havesaid, acted as my second. Count Louis de Fontaine acted for hiscousin."
"You will pardon my having asked you the question again," De Reberssaid; "but really, it seemed well-nigh impossible that a gentlemanwho, as I take it, can yet be scarcely of age, should have slainRaoul de Fontaine."
"I lack four years, yet, of being of age," Philip said; "for itwill be another month before I am seventeen. But I have had goodteachers, both English and French; and our games and exercises, atschool, naturally bring us forward, in point of strength andstature, in comparison with your countrymen of the same age. Still,doubtless, it was as much due to good fortune as to skill that Igained my success.
"I assuredly had no desire to kill him; the less so because, to acertain extent, the duel was of my making. There was, as it seemedto me, no choice between fighting him, and being denounced by himas a spy. Therefore when he accosted me roughly, I took the matterup hotly, and there was nothing for it but an encounter. As I havesaid, I meant only to wound him; but his skill and his impetuositywere so great that I was forced, in self defence, to run himthrough.
"After all, I gained nothing by the duel; for the governor, with atroop of horse, came up just as it concluded, and as I could giveno satisfactory account of myself, I was hauled off a prisoner tothe castle."
"And how did you escape thence?" Gaston asked.
Philip gave an account of the manner in which his servant hadrescued him.
"Parbleu! You are fortunate in your servant! Would that so shrewd aknave--
"But there, the trumpets are sounding. I will take you at once tothe queen, who is doubtless ready to mount."