“What! Have you been keeping a vigil, or has the bashful stranger proved good company at last?” “Yes, and no, Marcilly; but something has happened, while you and Badehorn slept like the dead, and we must act.” And, sitting on the bed beside him, I told him briefly, but clearly, what had occurred. When I had done, he remained silent for a moment, and then exclaimed: “We can do nothing now!” “But, Ponthieu----” “_Mon ami!_ Ponthieu, and you, and I are playing for our lives. If we lose the game, we pay the stake. I understand how you feel in the matter; but--and you know why--we cannot risk anything now.” “I know, and yet----” “Listen! As I said, I know what you feel, and were things otherwise, would have made a dash to free him. But consider for a moment. We are now in the small hours. We know not our way about this rambling house. We know not where Ponthieu is lodged, and it would be simply courting disaster to do what is in your heart. I think, too, we can serve him best now by doing nothing here, but using our influence at Orleans. Our Gascon is too insignificant for much fuss to be made about him, and a thousand écus of the sun would free him--be tranquil!” “I see you are right, but I have so much on my soul already. I would give the lands of Vibrac to free Ponthieu.” Marcilly laughed as he rose from the bed. “Your nerves are unstrung, Gaspard. This comes of not sleeping; as for your trouble of conscience, I would give much to change the weight on my soul, friend, for that which lies on yours--you will look back in ten years, and smile at your burden of to-day.” I turned my head aside, but he went on: “There is one thing that troubles me, and that is your promise to Achon. Edict or no edict, we can laugh at his threats, and for these we will burn his Abbey of St. Savin over his head the next ride we take with Rambures’ Horse--but your promise----” “It must be kept.” “You will have to ride post from Poitou to do so”--he was dressing as he spoke--“but, Ste. Croix! What a fool I have been! I doubt if you will ever do that ride, Gaspard. Do you not see what this meeting at Orleans five days hence means?” “No.” “It is clear as daylight to me. Achon is hilt-deep with the Guise in their plans. ’Tis more than whispered that he is the brain behind the Cardinal. He overheard your conversation with Ponthieu. He knew that the letter the Gascon carried concerns the safety of the Prince. He has the letter with him now, presumably, and Ponthieu has given away the secret of reading a blank paper. Yet this meeting between Lorraine and the Chancellor--sworn enemies until now--is to take place five days hence; do you begin to see?” “I think so; you mean that the execution of the sentence against Condé is delayed.”