“We are in time,” she said in a voice almost a whisper. “Thank God! Loose that wheel, you scoundrels!” Mechanically, without thinking from whom the order came, they permitted the wheel to spin back. What a blessed relief it was! Then she turned to Roquefort with blazing eyes. “You are a brute--a monster!” she cried. “Oh, I did well to think twice before taking you for a husband!” I could not keep back the cry that burst to my lips. So that story Fronsac had told me was true! But she merely glanced at me and turned again to Roquefort, who was watching her with eyes inflamed by passion. “It was only by the merest chance I learned a moment since what devil’s work was toward here,” she went on. “You will release him at once, Monsieur.” But Roquefort only laughed. “My faith,” he said, “how beautiful you are once you get in a passion! Come, Claire, you must be mine, after all! Only I can esteem you as you deserve! I am not milk and water--I can meet fire with fire!” She looked at him with scornful eyes. “Are you going to continue in this coward’s work?” she asked. He saw the contempt in her look and it stung him. “Mademoiselle,” he said coldly, his face growing stern, “this is something that is no concern of yours. This fellow knows of the existence of one spy, and perhaps of two, in my household. I propose to turn that wheel until their names are wrung from him.” “And this to the man who saved your honor!” she sneered. “Your gratitude is truly princely, M. le Duc!” Roquefort stared at her, amazed. “My honor?” he repeated. “I do not understand, Mademoiselle. What is this riddle?” She looked at her uncle over her shoulder, and something in her eyes brought him forward. But his face was livid--plainly, he did not relish this bearding of the lion. “Permit me to explain, M. le Duc,” he said. “You will remember that I told you of the attack upon me at Montauban, which would inevitably have secured from me certain papers but for the assistance which came to me opportunely.” Roquefort nodded grimly. “I remember,” he said. “Go on.” “Well, M. le Duc, I did not tell you the name of our rescuer, not thinking that it would interest you and not knowing at the time that he was a prisoner. It was not until Claire came to me just now and told me that I knew. Then I hastened here, that you also might know. M. le Duc, the man who saved your papers lies there on the rack before you!” Roquefort stared at him a moment and then down on me. “This fellow!” he stammered, as though not believing his ears. “But he is one of Cadillac’s men!” “He saved us,” said Brissac quickly, “not asking which side we served--seeing only that we were in deadly peril.” “And that the girl was pretty,” added the other, glancing at her keenly. “I can read the story--it is an old one among you Gascons.” “At any rate, he saved us, M. le Duc,” interrupted Brissac with a touch of impatience.