To this day I have no recollection of how I passed the city gates, of when and where my horse slackened pace, and I only realized that I had come back when the beast stopped of his own accord under the snarling lions over Cipierre’s gates.
When I entered the hall I found the Vicomte there, pacing backward and forward with a disturbed and anxious air. He almost started as he saw me, and asked in a breath:
“Has anything happened? You are as white as a ghost—where is Jean?”
In my heart I cursed my tell-tale face, but answered calmly enough:
“Nothing has happened. Marcilly is with our man, as far as I know.”
“And you did not stay?”
“I had other work. I escorted Madame de Marcilly to St. Loup. She is now with the Princess.”
“Oh! They have made a mess of things,” he burst out. “I am certain that Catherine knows where the Princess is, and at the first check will hand her over to the Philistines.”
“But there has been no hitch up to now?”
“Mordieu! Do you know that this morning we were within an ace of losing our heads?”