He then resumed his seat and finished his repast, and when the table had been cleared by the serving-men, he reclined back in his chair, and presently fell into a doze. While thus slumbering, he fancied he heard the trampling of horses in the court, but he did not disturb himself on that account, as he felt certain no one could get out of the castle without his aid. After he had slumbered on for nearly two hours, he was aroused by the entrance of the warder. “I have brought the keys, monseigneur,” said the man. “You have come for them, you mean, sirrah,” rejoined Warthy, ascertaining that the bunch of keys was hanging from his girdle. “I mean what I say, monseigneur,” returned the warder, laying down the keys before him. “What, then, are these?” cried Warthy, holding up the other bunch. “Those are not the keys of the castle gate,” returned the other. “Ha! I have been duped!” cried Warthy, the truth beginning to flash upon him. “Answer me, villain,” he roared. “You have not allowed the Demoiselle d'Herment and her attendants to depart?” “Yes, I have. I concluded they had your lordship's full permission,” replied the warder, trembling. “They brought the keys with them, and told me to unlock the gate. I am sorry if I have done wrong, but I fully believed they had your sanction, and so did the guard, or we should have stopped them.” “Fool! idiot!” roared Warthy. “You have allowed the Constable de Bourbon to escape. How long have they been gone?” “Upwards of an hour,” replied the warder. “Time enough to allow him to get fairly off,” cried Warthy. “But I must start at once in pursuit. Order my horse instantly--instantly, d'ye hear, sirrah?--and bid twenty archers get ready to attend me. The rest will remain here.” The warder rushed forth to obey the order, and in less than five minutes Warthy had quitted the castle with twenty men. His last words to the guard were: “Hold this eastle for the king, till his majesty's pleasure shall be known, and keep the Seigneur de Lallières a close prisoner.” XIII. THE MOUNTAIN HOSTELRY. |Having got clear of the eastle by the stratagem just described, the fugitives, apprehensive of immediate pursuit, dashed down the mountain, and, on reaching the valley, speeded along it as fast as their horses could carry them. Nor did they slacken their pace for more than an hour. They then paused to listen, but hearing nothing behind them, they went on somewhat more leisurely. They were all well mounted, for Lallières had given them the best horses in his stables. Hitherto no plans had been fixed. Bourbon would fain have persuaded D'Herment and his courageous sister to leave him, but they refused, D'Herment insisting upon acting as the Constable's guide throughout the night, lest he might miss his way among the mountains, and fall into the hands of his enemies.