It came vaguely back to me that in my childhood I had heard of this underground tunnel, but that the roof had fallen in and rendered it useless.

‘Precisely,’ said my uncle.  ’When the castle passed into my hands, one of the very first things which I did was to cut a new opening at the end of it, for I foresaw that in these troublesome times it might be of use to me; indeed, had it been in repair it might have made the escape of your mother and father a very much easier affair.’

His words recalled all that I had heard and all that I could remember of those dreadful days when we, the Lords of the country side, had been chased across it as if we had been wolves, with the howling mob still clustering at the pier-head to shake their fists and hurl their stones at us.  I remembered, too, that it was this very man who was speaking to me who had thrown oil upon the flames in those days, and whose fortunes had been founded upon our ruin.  As I looked across at him I found that his keen grey eyes were fixed upon me, and I could see that he had read the thoughts in my mind.

‘We must let bygones be bygones,’ said he.  ’Those are quarrels of the last generation, and Sibylle and you represent a new one.’

My cousin had not said one word or taken any notice of my presence, but at this joining of our names she glanced at me with the same hostile expression which I had already remarked.

‘Come, Sibylle,’ said her father, ’you can assure your cousin Louis that, so far as you are concerned, any family misunderstanding is at an end.’

‘It is very well for us to talk in that way, father,’ she answered.  ’It is not your picture that hangs in the hall, or your coat-of-arms that I see upon the wall.  We hold the castle and the land, but it is for the heir of the de Lavals to tell us if he is satisfied with this.’  Her dark scornful eyes were fixed upon me as she waited for my reply, but her father hastened to intervene.

‘This is not a very hospitable tone in which to greet your cousin,’ said he harshly.  ‘It has so chanced that Louis’ heritage has fallen to us, but it is not for us to remind him of the fact.’

‘He needs no reminding,’ said she.

‘You do me an injustice,’ I cried, for the evident and malignant scorn of this girl galled me to the quick.  ’It is true that I cannot forget that this castle and these grounds belonged to my ancestors—­I should be a clod indeed if I could forget it—­but if you think that I harbour any bitterness, you are mistaken.  For my own part, I ask nothing better than to open up a career for myself with my own sword.’

’And never was there a time when it could be more easily and more brilliantly done,’ cried my uncle.  ’There are great things about to happen in the world, and if you are at the Emperor’s court you will be in the middle of them.  I understand that you are content to serve him?’