At that moment Eleanor looked like death. There was a solemn silence. The music had stopped, and daylight was filling the room. Suddenly there was a great noise of horses and riders. It seemed to come from Nantes, and all the women moved spontaneously to protect Baudelot with their bodies, but his own soldiers appeared to deliver him. They were in the garden; they forced their way into the house, crying: “Baudelot! Baudelot!” They were astonished enough to find their young leader, not loaded with irons, but surrounded by handsomely dressed ladies and himself adorned as they had never beheld him. Baudelot’s first question was: “Gentlemen, did you enter the pigeon-house?” “Yes,” was the answer. “That’s where we began, Captain. Neither you nor the pigeons will find it again. The pigeon-house is torn down.” “Then,” said Baudelot, drawing his sword, “I am released from my word. Thanks, my brave fellows!” Then he took off his hat. “Madame,” he said very gently, “receive the humble gratitude of the captive.” He asked for a carriage. “One is already harnessed, Captain,” said one of his soldiers. “The owner of the house tells us it was to take you to Nantes.” Just then Baudelot noticed Hamelin bound with the fetters he himself had worn. “Service for service, Captain,” he said; “only, instead of untying your cords, allow me to cut them. No one shall wear them again.” Then, as he saw Eleanor recovering herself, he continued: “Captain Hamelin, this period of civil war and spilled blood is too sad for betrothals. One can’t tell whether there will be prisoners to watch in the morning or enemies to receive in the evening. Postpone your marriage, I beg of you. See, your fiancée herself wishes you to do so. My noble young lady, allow the poor Chouan to escort you back to your home at Mailly, will you not?” And soon all the young Chouans galloped away, rejoicing to have delivered their Captain, and glorious in the rising sun. Poor fellows, they had so little time left, most of them, for the sunshine! There are men who seem immortal whatever they do. Baudelot de Dairval was not killed although he did not leave Vendée for an hour. When his country was less inundated with blood he married Eleanor de Mailly, and Captain Hamelin witnessed the wedding contract. THE MARQUISE BY GEORGE SAND [Illustration] _“Of all modern French authors, George Sand has added to fiction the greatest number of original characters. Moreover, George Sand is, after Rousseau, the only great French author who has looked directly and lovingly into the face of nature.”_