"Why, we hunt up an officer of the royal army in Bordeaux, and hang him."
"Great God!" cried Claire, in dismay; "what do you say, madame?"
"Monsieur le Duc," continued the dowager, apparently not heeding the viscountess's alarm, "has not the officer who was in command at Saint-Georges already been arrested?"
"Yes, madame," the duke replied.
"Monsieur de Canolles arrested!" cried Claire.
"Yes, madame," rejoined the duke, coldly, "Monsieur de Canolles is arrested, or soon will be; the order was given in my presence, and I saw the men set out to execute it."
"But did they know where he was?" Claire asked with a last ray of hope.
"He was at the house of our host, Monsieur de Lalasne, in the suburbs, where they say he was having great success at tennis."
Claire uttered a cry. Madame de Tourville turned upon her in amazement, and the duke glanced at her with an imperceptible smile.
"Monsieur de Canolles arrested!" the viscountess repeated. "In God's name, what has he done? What connection has he with the horrible occurrence which saddens us all?"