Dubois, with a meaning glance, looked across to the prisoners, and Gerard, following the direction of his eyes, saw Pascal and Lucette. His face maintained its grave set expression; but his eyes were full of meaning as he met Pascal’s and glanced first at the prisoners and then at the men guarding them. “We are well prepared, indeed, Gabrielle,” he whispered to her. “Dubois has conceived a plan daring even for him. Pascal is among the prisoners.” “I have seen him, and Lucette too; but they would not let me speak to her.” “It needs no speech. He understands. He will lead the prisoners when the moment comes, and they will overpower the men in charge of them.” “But the soldiers here.” “Are Bourbons to a man and Dubois is among them--eating out his heart, I will wager, for the moment when he can strike. Ah! here comes the Governor.” “I have seen the Duchess, Gerard, and she is coming hither,” whispered Gabrielle quickly. “Good; it will all help to waste time.” The Governor, with de Proballe and others in attendance, entered then, and he gave a start of anger at seeing Gabrielle by Gerard’s side. He suppressed it quickly, however, and made his way with an affectation of respect toward Gerard. De Proballe, save for an occasional smirk, was preternaturally grave as he followed close to the Governor, bowing at every step with a grotesque, exaggerated obsequiousness that drew smiles from all. Not an act or gesture of all this escaped Gerard, who saw through the childish contemptible burlesque by which it was designed to insult and humiliate him; but he continued to act precisely as he would have acted had the ceremony been genuine. He remained seated while the Governor approached the daïs and said, with a last low bow-- “I desire to offer my most humble greetings to my lord Gerard de Bourbon, and to bid you welcome to Morvaix.” “Your recognition of my right and rank as the son of Morvaix’ Suzerain comes somewhat late, my lord Duke, and my previous reception at your hands was but an indifferent preface to this more fitting sequel. That preface yet remains to be explained.” “I had not then convinced myself that you were indeed Great Bourbon’s son.” “You are, then, now convinced?” “Should I be here and you where you sit were it not so, most noble lord?” “What, then, has convinced you? Your answer does not satisfy me.” “That is a matter to be more conveniently discussed between us in private. All is well with our illustrious Suzerain?” “My purpose in Morvaix is not concerned with the passing of mere idle compliments, and I bear no other greeting to your lordship than that you have already received and destroyed--an act you may now be anxious to explain.” “Your noble lordship’s--condescension amazes me,” said the Governor, with a pause before the word, easy for all to understand. “You speak of a purpose. Will you be good enough to explain it?”