Blaise vented a great breath of relief. "I feel better now," he said, heartily, and he turned with a beaming countenance to the maid, who looked at his stalwart form and promptly revised her opinion of him. The two were soon in conversation together, at the fireplace, and I was left to complete explanations with the lady, who did not attempt the coquetry of replacing her mask. "Our secret is yours, mademoiselle, and our safety is in your hands." "Your secret is safe, monsieur," she said, modestly averting her eyes from my frankly admiring look. "And now I understand why it was you who drew sword." "A privilege too precious to be resigned," I answered in a low tone, "even for the sake of my secret and my safety." My words were spoken so tenderly that she sought relief from her charming embarrassment by taking up my sword from the table, and saying, with a smile: "I have you in my power, monsieur, follower of the King of Navarre! What if I were minded, on behalf of the governor of this province, to make you a prisoner?" "My faith!" I could only reply, "you need no sword to make prisoners of men." "You hope to purchase your freedom with a compliment," she said, continuing the jest; "but you cannot close my eyes with flattery." "It would be a crime beyond me to close eyes so beautiful!" She gave a pretty little smile and shrug of helplessness, as if to say, "I cannot help it, monsieur, if you will overwhelm me with compliments which are not deserved, I am powerless to prevent you." But the compliments were all the more deserved because she seemed to think them not so. Her modesty weakened my own audacity, and her innocent eyes put me into a kind of confusion. So I changed the subject. "It appears to me, mademoiselle," I said, "that I have had the honor of ridding you of unpleasant company." Her face quickly clouded, as if my words had brought to her mind a greater trouble than the mere importunities of an insolent adventurer. "De Berquin!" she said, and then heaved a deep sigh; "I had forgotten about him." "I would not commit his offence of thrusting unwelcome company on you," I replied; "but I would gladly offer you for a few leagues the sword that has already put him to flight." She was for some time silent. Then she answered slowly in a low voice, "I ride towards Clochonne, monsieur." Taking this for an acceptance of my offer, I sheathed my sword, and replied with an animation that betrayed my pleasure: "And I towards the same place, mademoiselle. When you choose to set out, I am ready." "I am ready now, monsieur--," she said, lingering over the word "monsieur," as if trying to recall whether or not I had told her my name. It was no time at which to disclose the title under which I was known throughout the province as one especially proscribed, and yet I was unwilling to pass under a false name. Therefore, I said: