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scowled in response； and slowly； for I was afraid to show any signs of
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haste； we walked across the moonlit space to the bottom of the street by
which I had come。 There the gloom swallowed us up at once。
Pavannes touched my sleeve and stopped in the darkness。
〃I beg to be allowed to thank you for your aid；〃 he said with emotion；
turning and facing me。 〃Whom have I the honour of addressing？〃
〃M。 Anne de Caylus； a friend of your cousin；〃 I replied。
〃Indeed？〃 he said 〃well； I thank you most heartily；〃 and we
embraced with warmth。
〃But I could have done little；〃 I answered modestly； 〃on your behalf； if
it had not been for this ring。〃
〃And the virtue of the ring lies in〃
〃InI am sure I cannot say in what！〃 I confessed。 And then； in the
sympathy which the scene had naturally created between us； I forgot one
portion of my lady's commands and I added impulsively； 〃All I know is
that Madame d'O gave it me； and that it has done all； and more than all she
said it would。〃
〃Who gave it to you？〃 he asked； grasping my arm so tightly as to
hurt me。
〃Madame d'O；〃 I repeated。 It was too late to draw back now。
〃That woman！〃 he ejaculated in a strange low whisper。 〃Is it
possible？ That woman gave it you？〃
I wandered what on earth he meant； surprise； scorn and dislike were so
blended in his tone。 It even seemed to me that he drew off from me
somewhat。 〃Yes； M。 de Pavannes；〃 I replied； offended and indignant； 〃It
is so far possible that it is the truth； and more； I think you would not so
speak of this lady if you knew all； and that it was through her your wife
was to…day freed from those who were detaining her； and taken safely
home！〃
〃Ha！〃 he cried eagerly。 〃Then where has my wife been？〃
〃At the house of Mirepoix； the glover；〃 I answered coldly； 〃in the Rue
Platriere。 Do you know him？ You do。 Well； she was kept there a
prisoner； until we helped her to escape an hour or so ago。〃
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He did not seem to comprehend even then。 I could see little of his
face； but there was doubt and wonder in his tone when he spoke。
〃Mirepoix the glover；〃 he murmured。 〃He is an honest man enough；
though a Catholic。 She was kept there！ Who kept her there？〃
〃The Abbess of the Ursulines seems to have been at the bottom of it；〃 I
explained； fretting with impatience。 This wonder was misplaced； I
thought； and time was passing。 〃Madame d'O found out where she was；〃
I continued； 〃and took her home； and then sent me to fetch you； hearing
you had crossed the river。 That is the story in brief。〃
〃That woman sent you to fetch me？〃 he repeated again。
〃Yes；〃 I answered angrily。 〃She did； M。 de Pavannes。〃
〃Then；〃 he said slowly； and with an air of solemn conviction which
could not but impress me； 〃there is a trap laid for me！ She is the worst； the
most wicked； the vilest of women！ If she sent you； this is a trap！ And
my wife has fallen into it already！ Heaven help herand meif it be so！〃
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CHAPTER VIII。
THE PARISIAN MATINS。
There are some statements for which it is impossible to be prepared；
statements so strong and so startling that it is impossible to answer them
except by actionby a blow。 And this of M。 de Pavannes was one of
these。 If there had been any one present； I think I should have given him
the lie and drawn upon him。 But alone with him at midnight in the
shadow near the bottom of the Rue des Fosses； with no witnesses； with
every reason to feel friendly towards him； what was I to do？
As a fact； I did nothing。 I stood； silent and stupefied； waiting to hear
more。 He did not keep me long。
〃She is my wife's sister；〃 he continued grimly。 〃But I have no reason
to shield her on that account！ Shield her？ Had you lived at court only a
month I might shield her all I could； M。 de Caylus； it would avail nothing。
Not Madame de Sauves is better known。 And I would not if I could！ I
know well； though my wife will not believe it； that there is nothing so near
Madame d'O's heart as to get rid of her sister and meof both of usthat
she may succeed to Madeleine's inheritance！ Oh； yes； I had good
grounds for being nervous yesterday； when my wife did not return；〃 he
added excitedly。
〃But there at least you wrong Madame d'O！〃 I cried； shocked and
horrified by an accusation； which seemed so much more dreadful in the
silence and gloomand withal so much less preposterous than it might
have seemed in the daylight。 〃There you certainly wrong her！ For
shame！ M。 de Pavannes。〃
He came a step nearer； and laying a hand on my sleeve peered into my
face。 〃Did you see a priest with her？〃 he asked slowly。 〃A man called
the Coadjutora down…looking dog？〃
I saidwith a shiver of dread； a sudden revulsion of feeling； born of
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his mannerthat I had。 And I explained the part the priest had taken。
〃Then；〃 Pavannes rejoined； 〃I am right There IS a trap laid for me。
The Abbess of the Ursulines！ She abduct my wife？ Why； she is her
dearest friend； believe me。 It is impossible。 She would be more likely
to save her from danger than toumph！ wait a minute。〃 I did： I
waited； dreading what he might discover； until he muttered； checking
himself〃Can that be it？ Can it be that the Abbess did know of some
danger threatening us； and would have put Madeleine in a safe retreat？ I
wonder！〃
And I wondered； and thenwell； thoughts are like gunpowder。 The
least spark will fire a train。