"Zounds! Chance is devilishly well named Chance," said the Gascon to himself. "It has always had a particular affection for me. If it was canonized, I would make it my patron saint. Chance--Polypheme, Sire de Croustillac! When, on board the Unicorn, I made a bet that I would marry Blue Beard, who could have foreseen that this foolish wager was almost won; for, after all, in the eyes of the man with the dagger and of De Chemerant, I passed, I still pass, as the husband of the lady of Devil's Cliff. How all things hang together in fate! When I quitted the parsonage of Father Griffen, nose in air, shoulders squared, my switch in my hand to drive away the serpents, who the devil would have said that I left to go, not directly it is true, to incite the Cornwallers to revolt in favor of King James and Louis XIV! Zounds! One may well say that the ways of Providence are inscrutable. Who could have penetrated into this? Ah! now the critical moment approaches. I am sometimes tempted to disclose all to the good man Chemerant. Yes, but I think that each hour gained removes the duke and his wife three or four leagues further from Martinique. I think that here, on land, my trial might be carried out immediately and my gallows raised in the wink of an eye, while on the open sea there would perhaps be no persons present competent to judge me. I think, after all, that if Blue Beard has begged (as I suppose) Father Griffen to endeavor to withdraw me from the claws of Chemerant, that a sudden and imprudent revelation on my part would spoil all. Much better, then, to keep silence. Yes, all well considered," resumed Croustillac after a moment of reflection, "to let De Chemerant's mistake last as long as possible, that is the better part for me to take." During these reflections Croustillac had dressed himself. "Now," he said, "let me see if there are any means of getting out of here secretly." So saying, he softly opened the door and beheld with disappointment the lackeys of the governor, who rose respectfully on seeing him. One went to seek the baron; the other said to Croustillac, "Monsieur the governor forbade us to enter the chamber of your highness until called; he will come on the instant." "No matter, my boy, only show me the door to the garden. It is very warm; I wish to take the air for awhile--but no, there are undoubtedly trees in the garden; I prefer the open space, the field----" "That is very simple, your highness; in descending from the gallery you will find yourself in the garden, from which a gate opens into the fields." "Very well, then, my boy, conduct me there quickly. I long for the fields like a bird in a cage." "Ah, it is not necessary, your highness; here is monsieur the baron, he will conduct you himself," said the lackey. "To the devil with the baron!" thought Croustillac. The governor was not alone; Chemerant accompanied him. "Faith, your highness," said the latter, "fortunately we see you risen. We came to wake you."