“I have tried, but failed hopelessly,” she said with a smile. “For me it is enough that you did come.”
“You sent certain messages to the Duke of Bourbon. Have you not wondered that no answer came?”
“Are you from great Bourbon? And this Pascal? And the monk who is a prisoner? And the others of whom Pascal spoke? You are to go to Malincourt, where he has gathered a force of men—monks they were, Lucette told me. Is this all a part of it?”
“All,” he replied. “We came to gather for ourselves the truth as to this Tiger’s doings.”
“And you are the leader, then. Oh——” she paused and looked in his eyes.
“I am Bourbon’s son.”
At this she fell back from him in great concern.
“My lord——”
“Nay, Gerard to you, Gabrielle, my dearest; always Gerard to you, as you will always be Gabrielle to me. My Gabrielle;” and he stretched out his arms and folded them about her.
“I am frightened, my lord,” she cried, burying her face on his shoulder.