Within a mile or so of the village he caught in the fading light his first glimpse of a figure on horseback pacing slowly towards him. But it was not until they had come within a few yards of each other, and he observed that this cloaked figure was leaning forward to peer at him, that he took much notice of it. And then he found himself challenged almost at once by a woman’s voice.
“It is you, Andre—at last!”
He drew rein, mildly surprised, to be assailed by another question, impatiently, anxiously asked.
“Where have you been?”
“Where have I been, Cousin Aline? Oh... seeing the world.”
“I have been patrolling this road since noon to-day waiting for you.” She spoke breathlessly, in haste to explain. “A troop of the marechaussee from Rennes descended upon Gavrillac this morning in quest of you. They turned the chateau and the village inside out, and at last discovered that you were due to return with a horse hired from the Breton arme. So they have taken up their quarters at the inn to wait for you. I have been here all the afternoon on the lookout to warn you against walking into that trap.”
“My dear Aline! That I should have been the cause of so much concern and trouble!”
“Never mind that. It is not important.”
“On the contrary; it is the most important part of what you tell me. It is the rest that is unimportant.”
“Do you realize that they have come to arrest you?” she asked him, with increasing impatience. “You are wanted for sedition, and upon a warrant from M. de Lesdiguieres.”