But above all, and more than all, his chivalry was stirred on Gabrielle’s account; and his new-born love for her filled his heart with fury against the two men who had plotted her ruin and had turned their venom against him only when they found he was no pliant tool in their abominable scheme. The Governor on his side was no whit less angry, and only Gabrielle’s presence had restrained him from replying to Gerard’s taunts with violence. He meant to use Gerard as the means to force her consent to marry him; and had resolved that he should not leave the Castle until that consent had been wrung from her. This very resolve, however, made him hesitate. To give him countenance with her, the crime which Gerard had committed must be the ground for imprisonment; and while he smarted and fumed and raged under the lash of Gerard’s bitter words, he had held back. But the limit of his endurance was reached; and as a first step he resolved to send Gabrielle away. There was a pause of some moments after Gerard’s last words while the Governor made this decision, and then he turned to Gabrielle. “Mademoiselle, I must ask you to return to my wife for a time.” “Do not go, Gabrielle, there is no need,” declared Gerard. “He is right, my lord, there is no need,” said de Proballe. “This must end,” muttered the Governor. “It shall end--now. Come, Gerard, I have spoken of your sharp wits. Let us see you use them now. Tell me the contents of this,” and de Proballe held a paper before him. “I am no wizard to read what I cannot see, monsieur.” “No wizard; you hear that, Duke. No wizard. Yet something of a wizard surely--to _write_ what you have never seen.” Gerard on the instant understood what had occurred, but his face gave no sign and he stared steadily into de Proballe’s sneering face. “Come, Gerard, come. You must know it. It is your own letter just arrived from you.” The Governor understood it now, and with evidences of great excitement he tore the paper from de Proballe’s hand and read it. He glanced from it to Gerard, and smiled--a smile full of sinister meaning. “Do you say you do not know this?” Gerard maintained the same calm collected attitude. He was considering what course to adopt. “You hear? Either you know what is written here or you are some lying impostor masquerading in a false name.” “Gerard! Gerard!” cried Gabrielle, intensely moved. “Aye, Gerard--or some other name,” sneered de Proballe. “Ask his name, Gabrielle.” “Now, monsieur, at once if you please,” said the Governor, in a stern imperative tone. “Speak, or I call my guards. Do you know this paper? If not, who are you and why are you here?” CHAPTER XIV “I AM NOT GERARD DE COBALT”