CHAPTER XV
MY PRISONER
We left Poitiers by the Porte de Rochereuil, as I had no mind to beshut within the angle between the Clain and the Vienne, whence escapewould be a difficult matter if trouble arose. Whilst crossing thebridge my eyes fell on a rock on the opposite bank of the river whichcommanded the faubourg, and even held in check the old fortress of Jeande Berri, which guarded the junction of the Clain and Boivre on ourleft. I made a mental note of this, and years after I was to use thisknowledge to some purpose when I stood by Coligny's side beforePoitiers.
I had sent forward two of my men, with instructions to makearrangements for our accommodation for the night at Les Barres. Ideemed it inadvisable to go on to Chatellerault, and Les Barres was aconvenient halting-place, as there was no moon now, and there could belittle travelling after sundown. Moreover, I wished to spare my chargeas much as possible.
For these reasons we travelled at an easy pace, mademoiselle riding byherself a few yards ahead, for I confess that after a few civil wordshad passed between us I had taken the opportunity to fall back. This Idid under pretence of giving instructions to Pierrebon, though I neverspoke a word to him. Frankly, I was in a state that made me badcompany, and I desired to be alone. The face of De Ganache seemed everto be between me and Diane, and I morosely kept to myself, envying thelot of Adam, who was the only man who never had a rival, torturingmyself, as is the custom with lovers, with a thousand suspicions, andcursing myself for a fool in having undertaken this task.Nevertheless, I am sure, such is the frailty of man, that were it to beall over again I would do in this matter all I had done before.
In fact, I was grasping the truth of what I had often laughed at--thatthere is none so skilled in making dragons out of beetles as the manwho is in love and knows not if he is winning or losing.
We kept to the left bank of the Clain, taking a track that led over asad and barren plain, once the garden of France. Except immediatelyaround the city and the few hamlets we passed there was scarce a cropto be seen, and but for an abandoned vineyard, or here and there asolitary tree, brooding like a mourner over the dead, all was a drearywaste. There was little or no sign of life on this sullen andmelancholy landscape. Occasionally we met a peasant making his way tosome half-ruined hamlet, and driving before him a flock of geese withthe aid of a long stick, to one end of which he had tied a plume ofrags. At sight of us he, as a rule, left his birds to take care ofthemselves, and vanished like a rabbit into one of the ravines thatcross and recross the plain in a network. And this was the King'speace in Poitou!
My troopers rode stolidly on, taking turns with the led horse, and nowand again exchanging a word with each other. Pierrebon followed behindthem, whistling the "Rappel d'Aunis." I kept to myself, as I havesaid, full of sombre thoughts, but watching mademoiselle as she rodeabout twenty paces or so in front of me. She never turned her head,but I observed that she was scanning the country on either sidecarefully.
Beyond Chasseneuil is a wide plain, and the track here meets the roadto Thouars. I was looking at the slender spire of Miribeau, whichstood out against the rising ground that stretched towards Lencloitreand beyond, when I was startled by the sudden galloping of a horse. Itwas mademoiselle, who had turned sharply to the left, and was urgingher horse at full speed towards Miribeau. We reined up amidstexclamations from the men; and the fugitive, who had got a fairdistance off by this, looked back and laughed at us. It was a braveattempt at escape, and she evidently felt sure of her horse; but I hada mind to try the mettle of Montluc's gift to me, and so I told the mento go on quietly, and then, turning Lizette, followed Diane at an easycanter. As I did so, and felt the power of the long, swinging stridebeneath me I smiled to myself whilst I watched the little Norman mycharge rode stretching himself like a greyhound. Once more Dianelooked back; and then I accepted the challenge, and gave the dun a freerein.
The country here was a wide horseshoe-shaped plain, fringed with anetwork of ravines, and rising gently towards Lencloitre. It was forthe most part barren, but at intervals there were long brown and greenpatches of broom, the yellow tufts swaying in the breeze. Here andthere the late rain had left pools of water, flashing like mirrors inthe sunlight; and away to the north-west, in dark green and greyagainst the sky, stretched the undulating lands of higher Poitou. Farin front of me mademoiselle rode, the white feathers in her hatfluttering like a bird, and little puffs of dust rising beneath herhorse's hoofs. For a moment I thought she had made good her word toMontluc--but for a moment only. Sarlaboux was right when he said I hadchosen the best horse in Poitou. She was more than that--she was oneof the best horses in France, and only once was she ever beaten, but itwas not on this occasion. As she raced along the green of the broom,the flashing lights on the pools, and the white plain, all seemed tomingle in a grey haze. Soon I could make out more than a white plumeand a cloud of dust before me. Yard by yard we crept up; and thenmademoiselle heard the beat of following hoofs, and called to herhorse, and the brave beast replied gallantly. But there was littleuse. He was no match for the big dun mare, and at last there was oneeffort more, and I was by Diane's side.
"This is not the road, mademoiselle!" I cried; but for answer shestruck her beast with her whip, and then I laughed cheerfully, and ourglances met. It was enough, and in a few yards she had reined up, andthe little horse she rode, still full of fire, was pawing the earth,and switching his foam-flecked sides with his tail, whilst Diane waslooking at me with tightened lip and a flush on her cheeks.
It was not for me to upbraid or to openly say that I had realised shehad attempted to escape, and so I contented myself by remarking drilythat the plain beyond was unsafe, and that there was better ground onthe road to Les Barres.
"I presume, monsieur, it is for that reason we have been travellinglike snails? Ah! it is fine there." And she waved her hand in thedirection of Miribeau as she asked: "Why not go back to your men,Monsieur Broussel, and leave me an hour of freedom?"
"You are hard on your escort, mademoiselle," I smiled; "and besides, Itook your look back as a challenge for a race. 'Tis a good littlehorse you ride."
"It belongs to M. de Ganache," she answered, and I bit my lip. Itseemed as if I could never be free of De Ganache; but, steadyingmyself, I pointed to our men, filing along the white track like ants inthe distance.
"It is fair going, as we know, mademoiselle, back to the road. Whatsay you to a gallop there?"
She accepted the check she had received with a good grace, and turningher horse raced back with the recklessness of youth. On this occasionI took care that Lizette should not be first, and when we rejoined ourparty Diane pointed at the mare with her whip as she laughed, for shehad recovered her temper.
"I see now I should not have stopped when I did. Another mile and thatbig, dust-coloured thing would have been yards and yards behind; wouldshe not, Rollo?" And she bent forward and caressed the Norman's sleekneck. I did not contradict her statement, but contented myself bysaying humbly that there could be no comparison between the two horses.
"I am glad you realise that, monsieur; and we will have anotherrace--soon, I hope."
"In that case, mademoiselle, I will not stake anything, for I amcertain which horse will win." And with these words I was droppingback once more to my old place when she stayed me, asking why I did notride by her side.
"I feared to intrude, mademoiselle; it is no longer the furrier's nieceI escort."
She turned red. "Ah, monsieur, I am ashamed of my deceit; but thereare things I cannot explain now that forced me to play a part."
"Let the matter rest, mademoiselle."
"I know I must have seemed ungrateful when I left you as I did; butbelieve me, monsieur, I can never forget the brave man who risked hislife for me." And she held out her gloved hand, allowing it to rest inmine for a moment ere she withdrew it gently.
"I did what anyone else would have done. Perhaps, however, you wouldlike to hear that I have made such arrang
ements as could be made foryour dead servant."
"It is like you, monsieur, to remember that." And then there was asilence. After a little she asked almost timidly:
"Monsieur, amongst the prisoners taken by M. de Montluc was the Vicomtede Ganache. I have not been able to hear news of him, and I would givemuch to know----"
It was ever thus: De Ganache was ever first; and I answered, withoutletting her complete her speech:
"M. de Ganache is no longer a prisoner; he was freed by Montluc thismorning."
"Freed! Are you sure?"
"Sure as I ride here. I saw him leave Poitiers in safety."
"It is almost incredible. And yet----"
"It is true, mademoiselle. M. de Ganache is known to me, and I hadspeech with him before he left. He is free, I assure you."
"It is, indeed, good news, monsieur." And she looked at me, her faceall brightness, as she continued, with a little laugh: "M. de Montlucis, I see, more generous to men than to women."
At this juncture our speech was cut short, as from out of the ravinebefore us into which the road dipped there suddenly emerged one of thetroopers I had sent on ahead. As the man came galloping up to us Ithought at first that he bore ill tidings, but it turned out that hehad ridden back to give me news of the accommodations at Les Barres.
"I have arranged, monsieur, at the sign of the Slain Leopard, wherethings are as good as can be expected. There is room enough, as thereare no other guests but one. I have left Capus to see that everythingis ready."
Thanking the man, who fell back, we pushed on at the trot, for it wasnow approaching sunset. Whilst passing La Tricherie I halted for amoment to show mademoiselle the ruins of Baudimont, and pointed out toher, in the distance on our right, the field of Moussaisla-Bataille,where Charles the Hammer broke the Saracen advance for ever.
We were now but a little distance from Les Barres, and could alreadysee the roofs of the village and the square tower of the church, allalight with the sunset. As we came closer we heard the melancholychimes of the _couvre feu_, followed by the barking of dogs, and a fewminutes later we reached the hostel.
Les Barres itself was an oasis in the desert around us. It laynestling amidst groves of walnuts, and a singular chance had spared itfrom the evils around. As for the hostel itself, that lay far back ina trim garden, and the quaint signboard, whereon was pictured a deadleopard on a blue field--a memory of the last days of the hundredyears' war--swung triumphantly between two poles near the gate.
As we filed in my charge went into feminine raptures over the beauty ofthe garden, with its wealth of roses; and, indeed, it was such a spotas might have been chosen for a lovers' retreat. The interior of theinn corresponded with its old-world exterior; and the host, beingforewarned, had supper in readiness, and preparations made formademoiselle's comfort. I already had some experience of my faircharge's capacity and resource, and I was determined, for her sake, tocarry out my promise to Montluc. Therefore, when mademoiselle'sbaggage had been carried to her chamber and she herself had retired fora space, I took the opportunity to warn my men to keep on the alert. Ireminded them that their reward would be in proportion to theirservices; but they were old soldiers, who knew their duty, and nothingmore need be said of this. Pierrebon I told off specially to keep aneye on the other guest--whom we had not seen--and then took a generalsurvey of the house as far as it was possible. With the exception ofthe offices and one or two rooms, the greater portion of the lowerfloor consisted of one large room, half across the middle of which astairway led to the upper floor. It seemed to me the only passageabove, and whilst I was looking at it, the landlord happening to pass,I asked if this were so, and he replied: "Yes."
"You could be very easily cut off, then."
He shrugged his lean shoulders. "As easily as if we had ten ways,monsieur."
"You are lucky to have escaped so far."
"Oh, monsieur, we are poor people, and not worth pillaging, and theVicomte has always been good to us."
"The Vicomte?"
"Yes, monsieur--the Vicomte de Ganache. He is Seigneur of Les Barres."
"I begin to understand; but I suppose you have heard that things havegone hard against M. de Ganache?"
He wrung his hands, and with a word of encouragement to him I changedthe subject, and asked about the other guest. The landlord, however,professed utter ignorance of him.
"He came this morning, monsieur, and, as far as I know, goes to-morrow.He is alone, and seems poorly provided with money--and this is all Iknow."
There was nothing further to be done, though I had learned some thingsof value. As the night was warm I stepped out into the garden. It wasdark, and the stars were out. High above me a light was burningfaintly in a dormer window, on one side of which there was a woodengallery overlooking the garden, and on this two figures were standing.It was too dark to see; but one was a woman, I was sure, and I wassure, too, it was mademoiselle.
For a moment I was tempted to creep beneath the balcony and---- But Iput the thought aside, with a curse at myself, and turning wentbrooding down the garden, wondering how all this would end for me.Enough! I would do my duty--place her in the Queen's hands--and thensee what Italy could do for Orrain.
A step on the gravel path, and a dark figure came face to face with me.It was Capus, the oldest and most trusty of my troopers.
"I take the first watch, monsieur," he whispered, and passed on.
Up and down I paced for a little, and at last I heard mademoiselle'svoice. She had come down, and I went back into the house.