"Even so, an you will allow me," he said, after a moment or two, and his voice sounded cold and toneless; "even so I would like to escort you home. The sirens will by now have alarmed half the country-side--a vast number of men will be on their way hither--there will be a crowd upon the road--some of the men may be rough. Those who ... those whom you love," he added with a harsh laugh, "would not wish you to go to them alone." Then he continued more gently, and his voice became full of tender yearning: "Think you, my dear, that I do not understand? Why, there is nothing that you might think, or feel, or say, to which my heart would not immediately respond. You want to be at this time with those ... with those whom you love; that is only natural, and in accordance with your sweetness and your kind and loyal soul. Your heart now is at La Frontenay. Let me take you thither. I swear to you that I will not come nigh you, that I will not speak to you unless you grant me leave. So I entreat you let me come with you.... I would not else know a moment's peace." "You are very kind," she murmured, "but indeed, indeed, there is no cause for anxiety. Wrapped in my cloak I shall be quite safe, and the passers-by will be too busy to think of molesting me." "Is my company, then, so distasteful to you, that you are so anxious to rid yourself of me?" She felt her eyes filling with tears, but still she contrived to say firmly: "It were best that I went alone." "As you will," he rejoined coldly. He stood aside, and as she moved away from him, he called loudly: "Mathurin!" "Here, M. le Marechal," came from a distant corner of the quadrangle, and hurrying footsteps drew quickly near in answer to the master's call. Fernande, the while, busied herself with her cloak. "Mathurin," said de Maurel curtly, as soon as the overseer was in sight. "Detail two of the men whom you can best trust--Henri Gresset and Michel Picart, if you can spare them--to escort Mademoiselle de Courson back to the chateau." "Very good, M. le Marechal," replied Mathurin. "Tell them to await Mademoiselle at the postern gate." "It shall be done, M. le Marechal." Then Mathurin saluted and turned on his heel. It was not his place to question or to show surprise. Even in the most remote cell of his brain there was not room for a rebellious or a disloyal thought. He had his orders and at once he set about to execute them, and a moment or two later his voice was heard calling to Gresset and to Picart. "Will you at least allow me to walk with you as far as the gate?" asked de Maurel, after the man had gone. "If you wish it," she replied. Then, with sudden unconquerable impulse, she added in a tone of agonized entreaty: "My father ... and Laurent?" "What can I do?" he said with an impatient sigh. "You have influence," she pleaded; "you can save them if you have the will." "From the consequences of their own treachery?" he retorted harshly. "Treachery?" she protested hotly.