“Gerard, that sharp-eyed beauty, Mdlle. Lucette, wishes a word with you. I met her on the watch in the corridor as I returned.” Gerard went out to her. “May I put a question to you, M. de Cobalt?” was how she met him. “Certainly, mademoiselle. Can I help you? You look sorely troubled.” “Gabrielle trusts you so implicitly, monsieur, and ’twas she bade me ask you. Will you tell me why you were so anxious that Denys St. Jean should be watched so jealously?” “I gave my reasons, mademoiselle. When fever and delirium follow loss of blood from a sword-thrust there must always be risk to the patient.” “There is no delirium, monsieur. When Denys spoke of you, he was perfectly calm and clear. At first, that is, and until his excitement grew. But what he said of you was said collectedly.” “But the fever is on him, and therefore he should not be left,” said Gerard calmly. She made a quick gesture of impatience. “Can you not answer me frankly, monsieur? Oh, pardon me, but I am in such distress. You have some other reasons. I saw the look that passed between you and M. de Proballe.” “Would you ask me to interpret for you all M. de Proballe’s looks, and to explain all you may have thought in your excitement?” and he smiled. “Denys is so hot against you, and makes such charges.” “Should I warn you to set a watch over him if I myself were minded to do him any harm for that? In all honest truth, I care not what he may either think or say.” “But he declares----” “By your leave, I would rather not hear what he says except from his own lips. I shall know how to answer him.” She lifted her hands despairingly and was turning away, when a further question occurred to her. “On your honour, monsieur, you have no other reason for this watching than what you have said?” “That is a question which I would rather that you did not put to me.” “But we trust you so,” she cried reproachfully. He smiled again. “Then do as I have suggested.” “Oh, what a mystery is all this;” she exclaimed, and left him. “One word more, mademoiselle,” he said, following her a couple of paces. “We are soldiers and accustomed to long watches and little sleep. One of us will be on the watch out here in the corridor for the night.” She made no reply; and Gerard, going back to Pascal, told him what he proposed: that they two should watch in turns through the night. “I hope that rat will come stealing back,” said Pascal. “If I don’t pinch his throat for him, may my fingers forget the feel of a man’s wizen;” and he agreed readily to take the first spell. The rat did come back, more than once; but so cunningly and softly now, so warily and so keen of scent for the watchers, that neither Gerard nor Pascal knew of his coming; and in the morning both agreed that they had kept their vigil to no purpose. Could they have heard the report which Dauban gave to his master, however, they would have known otherwise.