Such a tumult of terror seized her as she fled from the house of the de Clapiers that she was aware of nothing but the tremendous beating of her heart that seemed to echo through her whole body.
CHAPTER II
RETURN TO LIFE!
Luc de Clapiers lay on the humble bed in the back room of the gardener’s cottage; in the outer chamber his servant was packing and gossiping with the convent porter.
Luc was fully dressed. His sword, hat, and cloak, sent yesterday from Aix (since all his infected clothing had been burned), lay across a chair beneath the window.
Outside the birds were singing, and their flying shadows crossed and recrossed the white corner of the hospice wall. Presently Luc raised himself on one elbow.
“Jean!” he called.
The man came instantly.
“What time is it, Jean?”
“About half-past two, Monseigneur.”
“Thank you. I am going into the chapel for a little while. I shall be back when Monsieur, my father, comes.”