"I am afraid you have not had much sleep, mademoiselle."
"No, indeed," she said. "I have scarce closed my eyes. It will be long before I shall sleep quietly. That terrible scene of last night will be before my eyes for a long time. Do you think that the minister escaped, Monsieur Fletcher?"
"I fear that he did not. I saw him cut down, by the fellow I shot, just before he turned to ride at you."
"How many do you think escaped?"
"A score perhaps, or it may be more. Some fled at once. Others I noticed make off, as we rode forward."
"Did not one of your men ride off, last night, soon after we lay down?"
"Yes, I sent off my servant."
And he told her the mission upon which Pierre had been despatched.
"That is a good plan," she said. "I would much rather hide anywhere, than that you should go forward on your long journey with but half your little force. Does it not seem strange, monsieur, that while, but a few hours ago, I had never so much as heard your name, now I owe my life to you, and feel that I have to trust to you in everything? I am quite surprised, now I look at you--I scarce saw your face, last night; and only noticed, as I sat in front of you, that you seemed very big and strong. And as you talked of what I must do, just as if you had been my father, I have been thinking of you as a grave man, like him. Now I see you are quite young, and that you don't look grave at all."
Philip laughed.