“That is my latest news. It would almost seem that we have yet another chance to go if we wanted,” said a quiet voice, and the Captain of Châtillon joined us. It was as if Lanoy was about to speak, when Marcilly cut in impatiently. “Bees or no bees, I go!” And he looked at me again. I made a step forward, and then, in a flash, there came a strange and wicked whisper to my soul. “Let him go. He may die--may get killed, and you and she will be free.” It was almost as if a living voice hissed this into my ear, and I clung to the thought. I would not meet Marcilly’s eyes, though I watched him beneath my glance, and with a laugh and a lifting of his brows he was gone. “Take Badehorn and Schoner, the German reiter, with you,” called Coqueville after him, and we heard him halloo back as he sped down the winding stair. I was glad of this. It removed attention from me. Although I was aware that no one had noticed us, I felt as if all eyes were on me when Marcilly spoke. I found myself near Majolais, and the dwarf winked at me as if he knew. I turned with a muttered curse, and sought refuge next to Yvonne de Mailly. I do not know how it was, but in her eagerness perhaps to see, she leaned forward, and her hand rested lightly on my arm. I caught the dwarf’s glance again, and he laughed to himself. I could have flung him from the battlements. In a moment more we saw Marcilly crossing the bridge. Neither Badehorn nor Schoner were with him. He was alone, and I waited and watched. Now the wood mentioned above was a part of the forest of Châtillon that stretched eastward, extending an arm, as it were, to the St. Aignan road, a bit of which it hid from our view. As Marcilly crossed the bridge the stranger passed behind the trees, and then we heard the distant crack of an arquebus, and a suppressed cry burst from the Princess. CHAPTER V POUR MA FOY, ET MON ROY “HE is lost! _Mon Dieu!_” she exclaimed. “Ah! Monsieur de Vibrac!” And she just looked at me; but such a look. There was a clattering of spurred heels as Coqueville and Lanoy rushed to the stairway; but, trembling and hot with shame, I remained chained by the horrible thought that had taken possession of me. I knew what the Princess meant. I had said that the wood was safe, and yet I had not searched there in that long, narrow neck of forest before us, and our man was lost. Yet no! He was out again; but this time not alone, for three men were at his heels, three men with fresh horses. One came alongside. Our man leaned out sideways with extended arm--a glint of steel--and it was a riderless horse that galloped by his side, with long, loose, trailing reins; and then it fell, and, scrambling up, stood stupidly by the side of the road. Yvonne de Mailly’s white fingers tightened over my arm, and I saw her pale a little as she gave a quick gasp. The dwarf almost screamed, and I thought I heard the echo of a prayer from the Princess. I watched with dry, parched lips, and hell in my heart.