"Her ladyship was so good," murmured the latter in some embarrassment and yet feeling obliged to speak, with that bright insistent gaze of the high official of the Mount fastened upon him, "as to inform me that, desiring to mingle with the people, and, knowing it might not be expedient to do so--in her own proper character--her ladyship saw fit to assume a humbler costume--that of a Norman peasant maid--" From the Governor's lips fell an ejaculation; he seemed about to speak sternly, but the words failed on his lips; instead, "Continue!" he said curtly. "That, I believe, is all, your Excellency, except that her ladyship expressed the desire the stupid fellow be set at liberty on the morrow, as not worth the keeping--and--" The mountebank started, as expecting now the Lady Elise to speak; to denounce him, perhaps; but it was his Excellency who interrupted. "You were going to do so? To set him at liberty?" "I, your Excellency? The _auberge des voleurs_ is so full of the scum of the sands, there is hardly room for them to squirm; but if your Excellency wishes all these paltry ragamuffins and beggars brought before you--" "Well, well!" The Governor looked down; his hand crushed impatiently the paper he held. "Here is much ado about nothing! Have you," to his daughter, "aught to add?" She lifted her head. Standing in a careless pose, apparently regardless of what was taking place, the mountebank, at the Governor's question, shot a quick glance from him to her. Although but an instant his look met my lady's, in that brief interval she read all that was lost on the other two; the sudden, desperate purpose, the indubitable intention, his warning glance conveyed. At the same time she noticed, or fancied she did, the hand thrust into his breast, as if grasping some weapon concealed there, draw out a little, while simultaneously, lending emphasis to the fact, he moved a shade nearer the Governor, her father! "Nothing," said the girl hastily; "nothing!" "Then," his Excellency waved a thin, aristocratic hand, "take him away!" "And your--her ladyship's instructions?" murmured the commandant. "Are to be obeyed, of course!" answered the Governor, complacently regarding his letter. "You hear, fool?" said in a low voice the commandant, as he approached the clown. "Thank his Excellency! Don't you know enough? Clod! Dolt!" But the man made at first no effort to obey; immovable as a statue, seemed not to see the speaker, and once more, the officer half whispered his injunction. "Eh?" The Governor turned. "I thank your Excellency! Your Excellency is most kind!" said the mountebank in a loud, emphatic tone. "And her ladyship?" prompted the officer. The clown looked at the girl; her breath came fast through her parted lips. "Speak, fool! To her ladyship you also owe much." "Much!" repeated the clown, a spark in the dull gaze still fastened upon her. "Is that all you can say?" "Take him away!" My lady spoke almost wildly.