"I will prove to you that they were not, Guillaume," replied Bois-Doré, with a dignity which shook his kinsman's confidence anew; "until then, suspend your displeasure against me and your regrets for this wicked man. When you know the truth, perhaps you will regret having compelled me to risk my life in order to take his." "But what shall we do with this unfortunate body now?" said Guillaume, downcast and dismayed. "I will not leave you in any difficulty on my account," said Bois-Doré. "My men will carry it to the Carmelite convent of La Châtre, where the monks will give it such burial as they choose. I have no idea of concealing from anyone what I have done, especially as I still have to punish the other assassin. But I cannot perform that distasteful task in cold blood, and I propose to turn him over to the provost's lieutenant, so that exemplary punishment may be dealt out to him. You will escort him thither, Adamas. Why, where is my trusty Adamas?" "Alas, monsieur," replied Adamas in a cavernous voice, "here I am at your knees, and very ill over this affair. For a moment I thought that you were dead, and I believe that I was dead myself for a good quarter of an hour. Do not send me anywhere; I have no legs, and I feel as if I had a millwheel in my head." "Well, my poor fellow, if you are not good for anything more we will send somebody else. I told you that you were too old to endure excitement!" The marquis walked back toward the horses, while his servants and Guillaume's took up the dead body and covered it with a cloak. But when they looked for the prisoner, they looked in vain. They had not taken the precaution to bind his legs. Taking advantage of a moment of excitement and confusion, when the servants, disturbed concerning the result of the duel, had left the horses in charge of two of their number, who had had much difficulty in holding them, he had taken flight, or rather had stolen away and hidden somewhere in the ravine. "Never fear, monsieur le marquis," said Aristandre. "A man with his hands bound can neither run very fast nor conceal himself very skilfully; I promise you that I will catch him; I will undertake to do it. Ride home and rest; you have well earned it!" "No," said the marquis; "I must see that murderer again. Do two of you search for him, while I and the other two ride with Monsieur d'Ars to the Carmelite convent." D'Alvimar's body was laid across his horse, and Guillaume's servants assisted Bois-Doré's to transport it. Bois-Doré rode on ahead with Guillaume, to have the gates of the town opened, if necessary, for it was nearly ten o'clock.