'As it will annoy Zamet, I shall do so with pleasure. I had half a mind to stop the shoemaker himself.'
With this allusion to Zamet's ignoble origin he turned and gave a short order to his men. As we came up to the gate the man before us slackened pace so as to let us pass, with the obvious intention, so I thought, of following me at his convenience. He had hardly pulled rein when the two saints closed in, one on each side of him, and in a trice he was in their hands. He protested violently, as might have been expected, but in vain, and we waited until he was well out of sight on his way to the guard-room.
At the gate we asked which way Zamet and his party had gone.
'By Tacoignieres, messieurs,' answered the sentinel.
'Then my way is by Septeuil,' I said. 'I owe you a long debt, M. d'Aubusson, and will repay. We shall meet again.'
'Pardieu! I hope so—and you dine with me at More's.'
'Or where you will—adieu.'
'A good journey.'
And with a parting wave of my hand I turned Couronne's head, and galloped off, followed by Jacques.