"The mornings are dark; I will call you in ample time, and Jacques will have your horse ready. You can be miles away from Le Blanc before the villagers are stirring."
The heavy supper and the warmth of the room after his cold, wet ride had made him drowsy, and on my promising to call him at the end of two hours he went to bed.
It was still dark when Jacques undid the fastenings of the gate, and I bade my guest farewell.
"Remember my warning!" he whispered, "and keep free from Cordel's clutches."
"A short visit, monsieur," commented Jacques, as L'Estang rode off.
"But full of interest, nevertheless. My visitor came all the way from Paris in this wretched weather and at some risk to himself to warn me against Etienne Cordel"; and thereupon I told Jacques the story, though without revealing the adventurer's identity.
"The tale rings true," said he, "but we ought to be a match for the lawyer's cut-throats. 'Tis a pity that Cordel won't give us a chance of measuring swords with him."
"He knows better how to handle the goose-quill," I laughed, leaving Jacques to fasten the gate, and returning to my room.