My old
resolve returned to me, and I saw the need for urgency - in that
alone could lie now my redemption in her eyes. My wager must be
paid before I again repaired to her, for all that it should leave
me poor indeed. In the mean while, I prayed God that she might not
hear of it ere I returned to tell her.
CHAPTER XI
THE KING'S COMMISSIONER
For that most amiable of Gascon cadets, Monsieur de Castelroux, I
have naught but the highest praise. In his every dealing with me
he revealed himself so very gallant, generous, and high-minded a
gentleman that it was little short of a pleasure to be his prisoner.
He made no inquiries touching the nature of my interview with those
two gentlemen at the Hotel de la Couronne, and when at the moment
of leaving I requested him to deliver a packet to the taller of
those same two he did so without comment or question. That packet
contained the portrait of Mademoiselle de Marsac, but on the inner
wrapper was a note requesting Lesperon not to open it until he
should be in Spain.
Neither Marsac nor Lesperon did I see again before we resumed our
journey to Toulouse.
At the moment of setting out a curious incident occurred.
Castelroux's company of dragoons had ridden into the courtyard as
we were mounting. They lined up under their lieutenant's command,
to allow us to pass; but as we reached the porte-cochere we were
delayed for a moment by a travelling-carriage, entering for relays,
and coming, apparently, from Toulouse.
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