The soldier shrugged his great shoulders, and walking to the fire, kicked back a piece of smouldering peat which had fallen from its place.
"Advice doesn't trip easily to my tongue at any time, and here there are so many considerations. Had the Duke fallen into the hands of those who attacked us, he would have been a dead man by now. I take it that our present position is an improvement upon that."
"They will certainly keep him alive," said Herrick.
"And therefore must travel slowly," said Christine. "We may overtake them."
"We are but two men, mademoiselle," Lemasle remarked. "To attempt the impossible is to court disaster. Besides, they have had many hours' start, and there is no certainty where they have gone."
Christine looked at Herrick, evidently asking his opinion.
"I should not shirk another desperate venture, mademoiselle," he said, "but there is wisdom in what Captain Lemasle says. To speak frankly, I do not know the real situation in Montvilliers well enough to give an opinion."
"And having heard it, you might have difficulty in understanding it," Lemasle muttered.
"At least you know that Count Felix has plotted the death of the young Duke," said Christine.
"That was the story which sent me to warn you," said Herrick.