Castelroux and I backed our
horses until we were in the midst of the dragoons, and so we stood
while the vehicle passed in. As it went by, one of the leather
curtains was drawn back, and my heart was quickened by the sight of
a pale girl face, with eyes of blue, and brown curls lying upon the
slender neck. Her glance lighted on me, swordless and in the midst
of that company of troopers, and I bowed low upon the withers of
my horse, doffing my hat in distant salutation.
The curtain dropped again, and eclipsed the face of the woman that
had betrayed me. With my mind full of wild surmisings as to what
emotions might have awakened in her upon beholding me, I rode away
in silence at Monsieur de Castelroux's side. Had she experienced
any remorse? Any shame? Whether or not such feelings had been
aroused at sight of me, it certainly would not be long ere she
experienced them, for at the Hotel de la Couronne were those who
would enlighten her.
The contemplation of the remorseful grief that might anon beset her
when she came to ponder the truth of matters, and, with that truth,
those things that at Lavedan I had uttered, filled me presently
with regret and pity. I grew impatient to reach Toulouse and tell
the judges of the mistake that there had been. My name could not
be unknown to them, and the very mention of it, I thought, should
suffice to give them pause and lead them to make inquiries before
sending me to the scaffold. Yet I was not without uneasiness, for
the summariness with which Castelroux had informed me they were in
the habit of dealing with those accused of high treason occasioned
me some apprehensive pangs.
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