"Call Tarbes," said the duke.
Braccio came forward and explained that he had been dealt with summarily, under the orders of the lieutenant-general.
"Mine!" said D'Alegres in astonishment.
"Yes, excellency, he was the prisoner whom your excellency ordered me to hang last night."
"A pity," remarked the duke, and Trevulzio, between whom and D'Alegres there was little love, smiled.
"I suppose you have nothing to say to this?" said Tremouille to me.
"I was not in the camp on the seventh."
"Where were you?"
But this question I could not answer for I caught Madame d'Entrangues' eye imploring me to silence. I looked back at the duke, and as I did so felt that Bayard had followed my glance, and that his eyes were resting on madame's face. He glanced down almost as soon as I did and turned to me, and there was a grave encouragement in his look from which I took heart. To me it was a great thing to show I was not at or near the camp on the seventh; and yet if I did so I would ruin a woman's name. It had been a harmless frolic, I swear this, as I know I will come to judgment before a higher tribunal than that of man; and yet had I spoken there would have been but one construction. I hated D'Entrangues, too, and this would have struck at a vital part. For a second I hesitated, and looked up once more at madame. She was pale as death.
I looked at Bayard, and his glance seemed to penetrate my thoughts.