Lord Denningham's bow included de Quernais deftly enough in the gibe; but, to his surprise, the young Breton noble paid no heed to the sly hint.
"My brother not here?" echoed Gabrielle, in perplexity. "But he must have been here?"
A shrug of the shoulders was her only answer.
"You appear to have doubts as to my word, Mistress. Would it not be better to apply to old grey-beard without! He will tell you that, till you came, we have been the only guests beneath this ancestral roof."
She took no heed of his sneer, but turned instinctively to Michael.
"What does it mean?" she asked. "What shall I do?"
It was indeed a perplexing situation,—after so hot a chase, and then to draw a blank.
But the news, which so discomfited her, was well enough to the taste of Count Jéhan.
"The saints be praised, ma cousine," he cried, taking her cold hand. "It is evident that he has been delayed. We are in time to save Varenac from dishonour."
Her face lighted with answering enthusiasm.