the Duke will be slain."
"You shall tell this to the captain of our escort."
"One moment, mademoiselle," he said as she moved to the door.
"Ah! you are afraid to let the captain and his men hear your story," she said contemptuously.
"They would probably kill me, and that would hardly help you," answered the priest quietly. "Count Felix has determined that the young Duke shall not enter Vayenne. I had the story from one who is well known to you, mademoiselle – from Jean, the dwarf of St. Etienne."
"A fitting story from such a madman," she laughed. "How came he to persuade a priest to be his ambassador?"
"I am not a priest." And Herrick threw back the hood from his head.
Christine took one step toward him, and gazed into his face.
"The spy!" she said.
"Mademoiselle, do I look like a spy? Do I act like one? Last night I was locked in the South Tower, a place of ill omen, as you know. To be his messenger the dwarf released me by a way known to him alone. I have ridden hard all night to bring this warning to you. All roads were open to me; I need not have taken that to Passey were I not desirous of serving you."
"You shall tell this story to the captain," she answered. "It is for him to weigh its merit."
"As you will, mademoiselle. Heaven grant he is an honest man."
She went to the door, and, calling a servant, bid him fetch the captain of the escort; nor did she speak to Herrick until the captain entered the room.
"Do you know this man, Captain Lemasle?" she asked.
Gaspard Lemasle was not a very observant man, and the priest's dress deceived him.
"No, mademoiselle," he answered.
"He comes to Passey with a strange story."
"I have no great love for priests," returned the captain, "and saving your presence, mademoiselle, have often known them to tell strange stories."
In as few words as possible, Herrick repeated his tale.
"Do you say that I and the men I command are traitors?" Lemasle burst out angrily when Herrick had finished.
"I say nothing against Captain Lemasle," said Herrick. "Not many hours since he toasted Mademoiselle de Liancourt with such enthusiasm at the Croix Verte, I could not believe him anything but an honest man."
"You are no priest, and there is something in your voice that I remember."
"No, I am not a priest; you took me for a spy last night."
"I thought you safely caged in the South Tower."
"I was, captain. I am here to try and save the Duke."
"But how could you escape?" said Lemasle in astonishment.
"That I can tell you at another time."
Lemasle was silent for a few moments.
"It is indeed a strange story, mademoiselle," he said presently, "and truth to tell there are some in our company who would not be in it had I had the choosing."
"If there is any worth in the story, you must judge," Christine said. "For myself, I do not believe such tales easily, and at all hazards we ride to Vayenne to-morrow. It might be well to take this man with us. Unless he can prove his honesty, the castle can surely hold him though he has escaped once."
"And from the South Tower," muttered Lemasle.
"I ask nothing better than to strike a blow in your defence, mademoiselle," said Herrick.
She looked at him curiously for a moment, as even she had looked at him last night when he had picked up the fallen whip.
"I have no mercy for spies and traitors," she said slowly, "but prove yourself honest, and I may find a way to reward you."
Herrick did not answer, but stood with bowed head as she passed out of the room.
CHAPTER VI
AT THE CLEARING IN THE FOREST
As soon as they were alone, Gaspard Lemasle shrugged his great shoulders and looked at his companion.
"I've always said that ugly little dwarf was not half such a fool as folk thought him," he remarked. "You're the first man I've ever known to get out of the South Tower. How did you manage it?"
"You would not have me betray the dwarf?"
"Faith, I'm at a loss to know what I would have you do, and for the matter of that what to do with you. You don't seem to have made much impression on Mademoiselle, and it's not often one finds an honest man masquerading as a priest. How do you call yourself?"
"Roger Herrick."
"Well, Monsieur Herrick, for the life of me I know not whether to treat you as friend or foe."
"Give me the benefit of the doubt and think me a friend. At least be friend enough to give me food and drink, for I have touched neither since I dined at the Croix Verte last night."
"Come with me," Lemasle answered. "I wouldn't starve my worst enemy."
Life without its dangers would have seemed a poor existence to Gaspard Lemasle, and a man who could make light of danger was a man he was inclined to take to his heart. Herrick appealed to him. Somehow he had got out of the South Tower, and he respected him for that. Last night he had carried himself well, and shown no sign of fear, even when an infuriated mob was bent on hanging him to the first convenient lamp bracket. Now he had voluntarily come to Passey to accuse a body of men of being traitors, knowing that he ran the risk of being delivered up to their tender mercies, which might reasonably result in a harder death than hanging would be. He was no common man this, and Gaspard Lemasle watched his companion anxiously as he ate and drank.
"You will not tell me how you escaped from the castle, will you tell me what you were doing at the Croix Verte last night?"
"I did nothing but dine, but I intended to sleep there, to stay there, a peaceful traveller, for some days. Going for a short walk after dinner I was attacked in the street, for the purpose of robbery I suppose, but finding the task beyond them, one villain shouted out, 'Spy!' and I was soon in the hands of an infuriated crowd. I believe I owe you my life, captain, for had you not been at the end of the street I doubt whether I should have escaped hanging."
"What were the men like who attempted to rob you?"
Herrick tried to give some idea of their appearance, and succeeded in making Lemasle thoughtful for a time.
"And you heard me get talkative over the wine in the Croix Verte," he said presently.
"There was only a partition between us, and Father Bertrand's voice, even when he speaks low, is penetrating. So long as I overheard the conversation his persuasion did not seem to appeal to you, Captain Lemasle."
"You left before the end then?"
"I did not return to the room after we all went into the passage to learn that the Duke was dead."
"You noticed the priest and me, did you take no note of the other men?"
"No. I judged that in Father Bertrand's eyes you were of most importance, and truly I thought little of what I had chanced to overhear until afterward. Being suddenly locked in the South Tower instead of sleeping in comfort at the Croix Verte is apt to set one thinking."
"And your conclusion, Monsieur Herrick?"
"We seem friends – need I deceive you?" Herrick answered. "I thought that Captain Lemasle's duty held him to Count Felix, but that in his heart he was desirous of serving the scholar of Passey because of Mademoiselle de Liancourt. His final decision I did not hear, nor do I know it now, yet Mademoiselle seems to trust him."
"And with reason," Lemasle answered. "I care not much whether we have Duke Maurice or Duke Felix, neither one nor the other can really fill the old Duke's place, but I would give my life in the defence of Christine de Liancourt."
"Then we are comrades, captain. I, too, am willing to die in her defence."
"In