At the gate of the château, Rosaline met Babet, who tried to stop her, but in vain; the girl ran across the garden and passed in through the side door, which the housekeeper had left open. All the while she wondered that the place seemed so deserted and that she saw no soldiers. She passed through the kitchen and dining room, and running upstairs to her grandmother’s sitting-room, flung open the door and found herself face to face with M. de Baudri.
CHAPTER XVII
M. DE BAUDRI’S TERMS
Rosaline did not look at M. de Baudri, but beyond him into the room, and she saw her grandmother’s armchair vacant, and the door that led into the bedroom beyond stood open. The girl’s heart seemed to stop beating, yet she could not believe the evidence of her senses.
“Where is she?� she demanded of M. de Baudri imperiously. “Where is Madame de St. Cyr?�
He had greeted her with a profound bow and he stood now before her, smiling and composed.
“Madame is on her way to Nîmes, mademoiselle,� he said pleasantly.
“To Nîmes?� repeated Rosaline, with pale lips. “Mon Dieu! what have you done?�
Her agitation did not ruffle his composure; he still looked at her with a smile.
“I am afflicted to tell you such ill news, mademoiselle,� he said suavely, “but unhappily a complaint has been lodged against Madame de St. Cyr. She is accused of being a heretic, and of sheltering a heretic. A charge so serious must be investigated. Unfortunately,� he concluded with a shrug, “I have to do my duty.�
“Your duty!� repeated Rosaline, with sparkling eyes. “Your duty, then, monsieur, is to drag a helpless old woman from the shelter of her home?�