"Nothing, father." He looked round, caught her steady eye, winced, and turned his away. "So--nothing. Why did you then ransom these men?" "Because, father, I had pity for the men themselves." "Why?" He could not understand this simple, natural, elementary feeling. She did not answer him, but loosened her hand from his; she took the torn strips of red silk that had formed her cross and put them on the table before him. "I renounce my companionship," she said. He did not regard her words or her action. "I am glad the Del' Peyras are nothing to you. I swear----" He sprang up but sank again. He could not bear to stand on his mangled feet. "I swear to you, I swear to all Périgord I will root them out; I will not leave a fibre of them anywhere. I will let all the world know what it is to oppose me." "What has been done, father?" Again he turned his face, but could not endure her clear eyes. "I cannot tell you. Ask others." Steps were audible in the anteroom, and Roger and Amanieu entered. They saluted. "Captain," said Roger, "we only are come." "And the others?" "Ten of them--made to leap the beam." "Yes, Captain, and the Seigneur del' Peyra sent his compliments to you, and was sorry your legs were so long. You'll excuse me, Captain, they were his own words; he made me swear to repeat them. He was very sorry your legs were so long. He cut ten crosses in the stone, one for each of the comrades, and, said he, there was room for another, and he'll do you the honour of making its legs long also, if he has the chance of catching you." Guillem gnashed his teeth; the blood rushed into his eyes. He glared at the messenger. "I think, Captain, you might have left us the plank," said Amanieu. "As it was, we had to borrow one from the peasants." "Send me the lieutenant. This can only be wiped out in blood!" roared the Gros Guillem, in spite of his wounded feet, leaping into an upright position. "I care not that I am lamed--I care not--I shall be lifted into my saddle. I will not eat, I will not sleep till I have revenged myself and the murdered ten, and my burnt castle and this outrage on my honour." "I am here, Captain," said the lieutenant, stepping forward. He had entered along with the returned companions. In the blindness of his agony of mind and rage Guillem had not noticed him. The filibuster turned his face to the lieutenant. It was terrible. His red but grizzled hair, uncombed, shaggy with sweat, electrified and bristling with the fury that was in him, his pale eyes and red suffused balls, his great mouth with pointed fangs, the lower jaw quivering with excitement, made his appearance terrible.