“A word with you, M. de Marsan,” he said, and drew me deeper into the shadow of the wall. “M. le Duc is injured, is he not?” I glanced around to see that none could hear. “These others must not know,” I began, “not yet.” “They shall not know.” There was something in his tone that drew my eyes to his face. I saw that it was set as with great suffering. Could it be that he so loved his master? “M. le Duc is injured,” I said, “very badly,--so badly, I fear, he will not live.” “But he still lives?” he demanded eagerly. “Oh, yes, and will for a day--perhaps two days.” He breathed a great sigh of relief. “Thank you, M. de Marsan,” he said. “I think my place is with him. I shall soon follow you.” He left me abruptly, and I stared after him until the darkness hid him. There was some mystery in his manner I could not penetrate. But I did not ponder it long, for two figures emerged from the doorway opposite and I saw that one was Claire. She came straight to me. “What is it, M. de Marsan?” she asked. “What has happened?” “M. le Duc is injured,” I said, so low that the others could not hear. “He is very badly injured--dying, perhaps--and wishes to see you.” “Dying!” she breathed, her face white with horror. “And he was so strong--so full of life! Oh, then I will go! Let us hasten, Monsieur!” They threw back the postern and in a moment we were without--alone together. CHAPTER XVI MADAME LA DUCHESSE DE ROQUEFORT WE went down the road together in silence. For a moment my heart revolted at the warmth of Claire’s allusion to the man; then I remembered that he was dying, and put the pettiness from me. I longed to speak to her, to take her hand, but I knew that fifty pairs of eyes were watching us from the battlements, and held my peace. But I could look at her--at her great, dark eyes, her red lips, the curls clustering about her neck, her lithe, active, perfect figure, promising even greater charms as the years passed. She raised her eyes to mine and smiled tremulously at what she saw there. “How far is this place to which we go, Monsieur?” she asked. “Not far,” I answered. “Would it were all eternity away!” She smiled again. “And you would wish to become a second Ahasuerus?” she asked, looking at me archly. “To keep walking thus, on and on, for all eternity? Surely not?” “With you!” I cried, all my love in my face. “With you!” She turned her eyes away. But as we passed a ledge of rock, where the shadow lay deep upon the road, she stumbled. I know not how it was--I had thought only to catch her hand--but the touch of her set my blood aflame--she was in my arms, close against my breast. For an instant she looked up at me, startled; then, with a sigh, she yielded to me and laid her head upon my heart. And I was far past words--far past anything but the deep, tremulous joy of holding her, of gazing down into her eyes. She gave me to drink deep of them.