“But I don’t wish to go now. I know now who is not my friend; and that knowledge is cheaply gained by the lack of just a few things I wished. It does not matter to him what happens to me: he has his duty to think of and his master, the Governor. Like Tiger, like whelp. He would like to see me stretched on the rack.” “Lucette, don’t say that, don’t,” cried Antoine. “You could listen to my groans as my joints were stretched, and chuckle to think how well you had done your duty. I know you now.” “For God’s sake don’t talk at random in that way,” he protested. “If it comes to that I’d be the first to help you to escape. I would, on my honour.” “Hear him, hear him,” exclaimed Lucette disdainfully. “The man would not let me fetch a few tie ribbons from Malincourt, and yet would risk his life!” Her contempt was splendid. “I’ll go with you to Malincourt; aye, and get you out of the city, Lucette, if you but bid me.” “You hear, Lucette, he will take you,” said Dauban, stopping the angry tirade which was hovering on her lips. She paused a moment, and then with a smile and a curl of the lip, said-- “No, monsieur, you had better not. I am a girl and you two are only strong men and armed, and you might be hurt. I might kill you both with my empty hands, and then escape. Pray be cautious.” Antoine laughed and shrugged his shoulders. “What a little devil you are, Lucette. May I be hanged if I know whether you want to go or not. But if you do, you can.” “Let us go,” said Dauban practically. “Are you sure you both feel safe?” asked Lucette with mock sweetness, and then glanced at Antoine with a smile which completed his conquest. “Come,” he answered; “you always get your way.” They crossed the courtyard at a leisurely pace and passed slowly through the gate, the two men exchanging words with the guards, and then turned in the direction of Malincourt. “If the Governor asks for me while we’re away, there’ll be trouble for me,” said Antoine somewhat ruefully. “If he asked for me and I wasn’t away, there would be greater trouble for me,” she retorted. “But if you repent, we’ll go back.” “Don’t spit such fire at me, Lucette; I meant nothing.” “We’d better hasten, I think,” said Dauban, and they quickened their steps to a rapid pace. Lucette played the one man against the other with great adroitness until they were near Malincourt and the cedar gate was in sight, when she began to set them by the ears. “Jacques tells me there is a price of a thousand crowns on Gerard de Cobalt’s head. Is that so, Antoine?” “Yes. It was announced in the Castle and has been proclaimed in the city.” “Is it true you have a mind to earn it?” “A thousand crowns is a thousand crowns.” “And blood money is blood money, too. Is it not so, Jacques?” “If it has to be earned by somebody, why not one as well as another?” “I see no flaw in that reasoning either,” and Antoine laughed.