“You are better, monsieur,” said Alaine, softly, kneeling down by him. “Now, pray you, Pierre, see to that other unfortunate. One would not have the blood even of an enemy upon his head; but, Pierre, I advise you to secure him that he does not move. He is possessed of the very evil one for strategy. Yet he spared me,” she murmured. “If you find you can restore him, go you and find Gerard, and I will wait here. I am no longer afraid.” She raised her lovely eyes to his, and Pierre with a swift movement caught her hands.
“I thought you dead, Alaine,” he said, brokenly. “I thought I should see you nevermore in this world.”
Lendert lay watching them. He stirred slightly, and Alaine with a soft flush on her cheek bent over him solicitously. “We are safe,” she told him. “My good friend Pierre Boutillier, who has been out with a search-party looking for me, has arrived and goes for succor.”
“And the Frenchman?” said Lendert, feebly.
“He is wounded sorely by a shot from his own pistol. He is not able to move, and can do no one harm for some time to come. We will take you to our home and nurse you well, monsieur.” She nodded brightly as he shook his head. “’Tis no more than our right, since you were hurt in my service. But for me you might now be safe and unhurt. Will you not allow me to pay my debt? Mère Michelle is a famous nurse, and can make you strengthening soups such as you never ate, and will have you up and about in no time. I think you will allow it is best, M. Verplanck. Besides,” she lowered her voice, “it would not do to let it be known that Monsieur Bayard abides so near. I would not bring trouble upon him and madame, his wife, and so—— No, no, it is not that Pierre and Gerard and Papa Louis would try to do evil to one who had befriended me, but it might be inconvenient for them to know where hides Monsieur Bayard. Is it not so? You agree?”
“I agree,” he answered; “though I do not wish to give you the trouble of nursing me.”
Alaine had cut away the sleeve and was carefully examining the wound. “It is not severe, I think. You will not be very long an invalid. The loss of blood has weakened you. I ought to go to yonder man now.”
Lendert looked at her in surprise.
“He is my enemy, yes, but one ought to do good to one’s enemy,” she said, simply. “I will first bind up your wound with these bandages steeped in the wine which Pierre has brought, and you will feel better.”
But she was spared the necessity of giving attention to François, for Pierre and Gerard were soon with him. Alaine threw herself into Gerard’s arms. “My brother,” she cried, “I am here! Is it not wonderful that I am here? And you have been all night seeking me. I am thankful that you have found me; you do not know how thankful I am that Pierre came at that moment. You did not receive my message, for you have not been at home, and for that I am also thankful. All is well, very well, save that M. Verplanck is suffering for his defence of me. As for that other, he is punished for his wickedness. M. Verplanck does not deserve punishment, and yet he has it.”