"Do you not know that he is a prisoner of war, that he was a captain, that _he_ was commandant of a fortress, that he had the same titles and the same rank as this unhappy Richon, and that the Bordelais will avenge upon him the murder of the man whose murder you were responsible for? For it's of no use for you to pretend that it was done according to law, Monsieur le Duc; it was a downright murder!" The duke, completely unhorsed by this apostrophe, by the fire of her flashing eyes, and by her nervous, energetic gestures, turned pale, and beat his breast. "Oh! 't is true!" he cried, "'t is true! poor Canolles! I had forgotten him!" "My poor brother! my poor brother!" cried Nanon, happy to be at liberty to give vent to her emotion, and bestowing upon her lover the title under which Monsieur d'Épernon knew him. _"Mordieu!_ you are right," said the duke, "and I have lost my wits. How in God's name could I have forgotten the poor fellow? But nothing is lost; they can hardly have heard the news at Bordeaux as yet; and it will take time to assemble the court-martial, and to try him. Besides, they will hesitate." "Did the queen hesitate?" Nanon retorted. "But the queen is the queen; she has the power of life and death. They are rebels." "Alas!" said Nanon, "that's an additional reason why they should not stand on ceremony; but what do you mean to do? Tell me." "I don't know yet, but rely on me." "Oh!" cried Nanon, trying to rise, "if I have to go to Bordeaux myself, and surrender myself in his place, he shall not die." "Never fear, dear heart, this is my affair. I have caused the evil and I will repair it, on the honor of a gentleman. The queen still has some friends in the city, so do not you be disturbed." The duke made her this promise from the bottom of his heart. Nanon read in his eyes determination, sincerity, and good-will, and her joy was so overpowering that she seized his hands, and said as she pressed them to her burning lips:-- "Oh, Monseigneur, if you succeed, how I will love you!" The duke was moved to tears; it was the first time that Nanon had ever spoken to him so expansively or made him such a promise. He at once rushed from the room, renewing his assurances to Nanon that she had nothing to fear. Sending for one of his retainers, whose shrewdness and trust-worthiness were well known to him, he bade him go at once to Bordeaux, make his way into the city, even if he had to scale the ramparts, and hand to Lavie, the advocate-general, the following note, written from beginning to end by his own hand:-- "See to it that no harm comes to Monsieur de Canolles, captain and commandant in his Majesty's service. "If he has been arrested, as is probable, use all possible means to set him free; bribe his keepers with whatever sum they demand,--a million if need be,--and pledge the word of Monsieur le Duc d'Épernon for the governorship of a royal château.