"You have said much that is important. But 'tis true, you'd best say the rest quickly,—your return may be dangerous enough."
"Oh, I shall go so fast that nobody will have time to suspect me. As for the guards, it is their duty to keep me in. Should they see it is I who was out, they will be very glad to have me in again, and to hold their tongues, for the Count's punishments are not light. But as to Madame's message—she would have tried to convey it by Brigitte, had I not declared I would come at all hazards,—for the truth is, I have something to say on my own responsibility, also."
"But Madame's message?" I demanded eagerly.
"She begs that you will go away while you can. So brave a young gentleman should not stay here to risk the Count's vengeance."
I felt joy at this concern for my safety.
"If I am a brave man," I answered, "I can only stay and help her."
"I am glad you are of that mind, Monsieur, for it is what I think. That is what I had to say to you."
"Then the only question is, how can I be of use to the Countess? She must be released from this imprisonment."
"There I agree with you again. She ought to be taken away—far out of reach of the Count's vengeance—before he has time to make her plight worse than it is, or carry out any design against her life. But even if she remained as she is, her health would not long endure it."
"Now that matters have come to this pass, no doubt she is willing to run away."