"Monsieur Lenet, dear Monsieur Lenet," cried Claire's voice in the distance, "I rely upon you; you will answer to me for him." And the door closed behind her. "Good!" muttered the philosophical duke; "that was not over pleasant; but at last we are in the realm of the possible once more." III. As soon as the viscountess had disappeared, and her voice had died away in the distance, the gate having been closed behind her, the circle of officers drew closer around Canolles, and two men of sinister mien, suddenly appearing as if they had sprung from the ground, approached the duke and humbly awaited his commands. The duke simply pointed to the prisoner. He himself drew near to him, and said, with his customary glacial courtesy:-- "Monsieur, you doubtless understand that the departure of your companion in misfortune renders you liable to the penalty which was to be inflicted upon him." "Yes, monsieur," replied Canolles, "I suspected as much; but there is one thing of which I am perfectly certain, that Madame la Princesse granted a pardon to me by name. I saw, and you yourself might have seen just now, the order for my release in the hands of Madame la Vicomtesse de Cambes." "It is true, monsieur," said the duke, "but Madame la Princesse could not have anticipated the present state of affairs." "I am to understand, then, that Madame la Princesse recalls her signature?" "Yes," replied the duke. "A princess of the blood is false to her word?" The duke maintained his impassive demeanor. Canolles looked about him. "Has the time arrived?" he asked. "Yes, monsieur." "I thought that you would await the return of Madame la Vicomtesse de Cambes; you promised her that nothing should be done in her absence. It seems that nobody has any regard for his word to-day." And the prisoner gazed reproachfully, not at the Duc de La Rochefoucauld, but at Lenet. "Alas! monsieur," cried the latter, with tears in his eyes, "forgive us. Madame la Princesse positively refused to show mercy to you. I begged very earnestly none the less; Monsieur le Duc will bear witness to that, and God as well. But she deems it imperative that Richon's death should be paid for in kind, and she was as immovable as stone. Now do you yourself pass judgment on my conduct, Monsieur le Baron; instead of allowing the burden of your horrible situation to fall partly upon the viscountess, I ventured,--pray forgive me, for I feel that I stand in great need of your forgiveness,--I ventured to cause it to fall upon you alone, for you are a soldier and of gentle birth." "In that case," faltered Canolles, whose voice was choked with emotion, "in that case I shall not see her again! When you bade me embrace her, it was for the last time!"