“What does this mean?” asked Dauban. “That you have come back to Malincourt. Will you give me that paper or shall I have it taken from you? I think you know whether I am safe to trifle to with,” and he held out his hand. With trembling fingers Dauban drew it from his pocket and handed it over; and Pascal called up a couple of men and gave him into their charge. Antoine he did not even trouble to see, but gave orders that he should be kept in safe custody, and then carried the permit to Gerard to consult with him as to making use of it. Lucette first hurried to Denys, whom she found sufficiently recovered to have been able to leave his bed, and having told him all that had occurred at the Castle she went to Gabrielle. “How calm and strong you are, Gabrielle,” she said, when the first greetings had been exchanged. “And I am in a perfect fever of restlessness.” “We can do nothing yet but wait, Lucette.” “But what will happen? Can’t we do something? Tell me everything that has happened. I am dying to know everything--everything.” Gabrielle told her as shortly as she could what had occurred in the cell and afterwards in the futile attempt to escape from the city, and then the return to Malincourt. “They think you are all at Crevasse.” “So M. Pascal brought us word when he told us to expect you. I am so glad you have escaped, and to have you with me again. Now tell me how you managed it.” Lucette made her recital very brief indeed, saying little or nothing of the means she had employed to cozen the two men. “They must have been mad indeed to think you would betray me,” said Gabrielle. “They were thinking most of the thousand crowns, and when a man’s head is set money-wards, he is most easily blinded to other things.” “What a philosopher you are, Lucette--about men.” “And so M. Gerard is M. Gerard still, Gabrielle, but not de Cobalt,” said Lucette, changing the subject. “How glad and proud you must feel.” “If only this danger were over; but the suspense is racking,” replied Gabrielle, with a sigh. “Any hour, any minute may bring the Governor to Malincourt with a strong force.” “But are we not also strong?” “In numbers, perhaps, strong enough; but our men are virtually without arms.” “If he comes you can hold out as long as possible and then fly.” “Do you think he would leave us a way out?” “What do you mean, Gabrielle?” “Why, that Malincourt would be surrounded, of course, and every chance of escape stopped. We have indeed been considering within the last hour, whether it wouldn’t be best to risk a flight and seek concealment in the city while there is yet time.” “Of a truth, it is well I came back,” exclaimed Lucette excitedly, jumping up. “Where are your wits, Gabrielle? They say love sharpens them in a woman and blunts them in a man; but this does not look like it.” “Lucette!” cried Gabrielle, flushing partly in confusion at the words and partly with the gathered infection of Lucette’s excitement.