"What?" I cried, astonished. "But this is infamous. You are not prisoners!"
Mademoiselle laughed harshly. "Are we not? Well, I suppose not; for if we wanted company, Captain Larolle said he would be delighted to see us--in the parlour."
"He has taken your parlour?" I said.
"He and his lieutenant sit there. But I suppose we should be thankful," she added bitterly. "We have still our bed-rooms left to us."
"Very well," I said. "Then I must deal with Clon as I can. But I have still a favour to ask, Mademoiselle. It is only that you and your sister will descend to-morrow at your usual time. I shall be in the parlour."
"I would rather not," she said, pausing and speaking in a troubled voice.
"Are you afraid?"
"No, Monsieur; I am not afraid," she answered proudly. "But--"
"You will come?" I said.
She sighed before she spoke. At length, "Yes, I will come--if you wish it," she answered; and the next moment she was gone round the corner of the house, while I laughed to think of the excellent watch these gallant gentlemen were keeping. M. de Cocheforêt might have been with her in the garden, might have talked with her as I had talked, might have entered the house even, and passed under their noses scot-free. But that is the way of soldiers. They are always ready for the enemy, with drums beating and flags flying--at ten o'clock in the morning. But he does not always come at that hour.