The evidence of my identity was complete: there was my own admission
to Castelroux; the evidence of the treason of Lesperon was none the
less complete; in fact, it was notorious; and there was the Duke's
letter found amongst my effects. If the judges refused to lend an
ear to my assurances that I was not Lesperon at all, but the missing
Bardelys, my troubles were likely to receive a very summary solution.
The fear of it, however, weighed not over-heavily upon me. I was
supremely indifferent. Life was at an end so far as I was concerned.
I had ruined the one chance of real happiness that had ever been
held out to me, and if the gentlemen of the courts of Toulouse were
pleased to send me unheeded to the scaffold, what should it signify?
But there was another matter that did interest me, and that was my
interview with Marsac. Touching this, I spoke to my captor.
"There is a gentleman I wish to see at Grenade this morning. You
have amongst the papers taken from me a letter making this
assignation, Monsieur le Capitaine, and I should be indeed grateful
if you would determine that we shall break our fast there, so that
I may have an opportunity of seeing him. The matter is to me of
the highest importance."
"It concerns--?" he asked.
"A lady," I answered.
"Ah, yes! But the letter is of the nature of a challenge, is it
not? Naturally, I cannot permit you to endanger your life."
"Lest we disappoint the headsman at Toulouse?" I laughed.
Pages:
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133