“Marsan,” he said out of a full heart, “I want you to know Mademoiselle de Cadillac--I must tell her how much we owe you.” I looked into her eyes and saw love and joy flaming there. Verily, it was a good thing to have brought these two together! “Valérie,” he added, “it is Marsan here who has saved us--who has devised this wonderful plan of escape----” “It was not I at all, Mademoiselle,” I protested, but she silenced me with a little gesture. “There!” she cried, and it was wonderful to see how fatigue and fear had slipped from her. “I quite know what to believe, M. le Marsan! Some time, perhaps, we may find a way to repay you.” I bowed over the hand she gave me. Had I not known another, I might have found it in my heart to envy Fronsac. “And I,” I said, “am happy in this chance to serve you. Besides, we have not yet escaped--we are not yet at the end of the journey. It is foolish to linger here. We must be going.” “True,” said the girl, and came suddenly back to earth. “Lead on, Monsieur. We will follow.” As we turned, I heard a groan at my feet. “So he is not yet dead,” muttered Fronsac between his teeth, and picked up his musket for another blow. “Well, we will finish it.” But I caught his arm and held it back. “No, no,” I protested. “Not that. He is not a man to kill here like a dog. Let us find some other way?” “What other way can there be?” demanded my friend impatiently. “We must not leave him lying here for the sentries to stumble over,” I said. “We must conceal him somewhere.” “Well?” and Fronsac made a gesture towards the battlement. “The cliff will settle all that.” But again I shook my head. He was worthy a better fate. Besides, to kill a wounded man---- “Let us take him with us down into the tower,” I said at last. “They will not find him there, and we can still end it should there be need.” “As you will,” assented Fronsac shortly, and we caught him by leg and shoulder and staggered towards the stair that led downward to the tower door. As we stumbled forward I tried in vain to pierce the gloom before us. “Softly,” I whispered. “There is a sentry at either end of the parapet.” “Not to-night,” said Mademoiselle quickly. “I heard M. le Duc dismiss them just before he came to me.” I breathed more freely. Certainly Roquefort would not wish to be overheard, yet still this was an unexpected bit of fortune.