“He vows that unless the prisoners and Gabrielle are in his hands within twenty-four hours he will put me to the question; and he ordered me not to leave the Castle and placed me in charge of one of his own officers. But he shall kill me before I will say a word.” “You shall do better than that, mademoiselle; you shall leave the Castle. But where is your gaoler?” The suspicion of a smile hovered about her lips for a moment, and her eyes lighted as she answered-- “I will tell you that directly, monsieur. When the Duke had terrified us in this fashion he called in his men, and actually had the whole apartments of the Duchess searched. Oh, it was shameful! Even the rough soldiers themselves were ashamed of their task, and hurried it. And when he found nothing, there being nothing to find, he grew even more violent, and taunted and insulted that noble woman till my heart ached for her and my blood boiled at his cowardice and brutality. And when at last he left us, it was only to send message after message telling of the steps he had taken to recapture the prisoners; with lie after lie; first that they had been taken, then that they were dead--any tale which could serve to frighten us, coward that he is. But I have managed to learn the truth in spite of him, monsieur.” “Through your gaoler?” he asked quickly. “Yes, monsieur. He put me in the care of Antoine de Cavannes,” said Lucette demurely. “And who is Antoine de Cavannes?” “Ah, you do not know. He used to think I--I would marry him, monsieur.” “Oh, those bright eyes of yours, mademoiselle,” laughed Pascal. “But he is hateful, this Antoine. It was he who with M. d’Estelle tried to kill Denys St. Jean when--when M. Gerard met Gabrielle.” “The devil he is! and you fooled him, so that he lets you go where you will?” “He made me promise not to leave the Castle, and he keeps watch in the courtyard by the gate. I was going to him for news--the Duchess is almost dead with anxiety.” “Tell me what he has told you.” “They think the prisoners have got out of the city. They have searched Malincourt and found no one there, but have left a guard in possession of the house. They do not think that even Gabrielle will return there, and believe either that the prisoners have escaped from Morvaix with her or that they are hiding in the city.” “Long may they hold that belief!” exclaimed Pascal. “There have been many arrests, monsieur. You see Gabrielle is known to almost every one, but M. Gerard and the monk to very few; so every one who cannot be recognized is arrested to be identified. At first they were brought here, but now they are taken somewhere in the city. Where are they, monsieur?” “At Malincourt,” he replied readily. “Oh, and I cannot go to Gabrielle!” cried Lucette distressfully.