"Shall I break it open, excellency?" and Braccio held the bag out to D'Alegres. "My master has the key," put in Tarbes; "I know no more." "I--the key!" I exclaimed. "Villain, the bag is not mine!" "It bears your arms, however;" Braccio pointed to a little metal plate on which they were distinctly engraved. "You must, I am afraid, submit to the further indignity of being searched," said D'Alegres. There was no hope in resistance and I endured this. Braccio himself searched me, and almost as soon as he began, pulled from an inner pocket of my vest a small key, attached to a fine gold chain. "Here is the noble knight's key," he exclaimed, "and see; it fits exactly!" He turned it in the lock, opened the valise, and emptied the contents out on a rough camp table. A low murmur went up, for amongst the small heap of articles was Hawkwood's leather bag, and madame's bracelet, whilst something rolled a little on one side, and fell off softly to the turf. A soldier picked it up, and placed it face upwards on the table--the lost medallion. One by one D'Alegres held up the articles sadly, and I looked round in my agony on the faces of those who but an hour ago were my friends. They had all shrunk back from me, and I was alone within the circle of the guards. D'Entrangues stood with folded arms, and a smile on his lips, and Tarbes glanced from side to side, like an ape seeking chance for escape. I looked towards Hawkwood, but even his face was hard and set. "I do not see the duchess' rubies here," said D'Alegres. "I am prepared to produce them to-morrow," replied D'Entrangues; "in the meantime, I trust you have sufficient proof?" "Give M. d'Entrangues his sword. You need not fight this man," D'Alegres added, pointing to me, "even if he challenges you. Were you a French subject," he said to me, "I would hang you in your boots; as it is I will submit the case to the duke. D'Entrangues, I hold you to your word about the rubies. Provost, see that your prisoner is carefully guarded. You will answer for him with your life." "Prisoner, your excellency! There are two." "I have restored M. d'Entrangues his sword." "There is still another," and the provost pointed to Tarbes. "Pah!" exclaimed D'Alegres, "hang him out of hand--come, gentlemen!" One by one they went out. Not another look did they give me. I heard the tread of feet, and the sound of voices in eager conversation, dying out in the distance. I stood as in a dream. Tarbes had been dragged away speechless, and half fainting. When he was outside he found voice, and I heard him alternately cursing D'Alegres, and D'Entrangues and screaming for mercy. Braccio touched me on the arm. "Come, signore," he said, "_you_, at any rate, have a few hours left." CHAPTER II. RUIN.