CHAPTER IV

MADEMOISELLE ST. CLAIR

Sharp hammering at the door, long continued, finally brought an end to Barrington’s nightmare hours and Seth’s deep slumbers.  The sun was streaming in through the little window, revealing the dust and the dilapidation of this lodging.  Seth went to the door.

“Ma foi, I thought you had started on your last long journey,” said the proprietor of the house.  “My knuckles are sore with knocking.  Monsieur le Comte bid me give you this card.  You would understand and pay, he said.”

“How much?”

“Six louis.  It was arranged, he said, and I gave him the money before he went this morning.”

“He has gone?” called Barrington from his bed.

“Madame la Marquise heard of his arrival, Monsieur, and sent to fetch him to lodgings in the castle.  You will doubtless meet him in Beauvais during the day.”

“Six louis for this card?” questioned Seth.  “It is a long price.”

“If you were not a stranger in Beauvais you would know that it was very cheap,” answered the proprietor.

“Pay it,” said Barrington.

Seth did so with a grumble, and wondered how much the proprietor was making out of the deal.

“We have fallen among thieves, Master Richard,” he said as he shut the door.  “I shouldn’t wonder if any one could slip into this ball without payment of any sort.  We’ve made a long night of it.”

“Weariness and wine,” answered Barrington.  “The wine was strong, or this mountain air added to the potency of its effects upon us.”

“Maybe.  I never slept so soundly since I was a youngster.”

“And I never had such horrible dreams,” said Barrington.

“I’ve been thinking, Master Richard, that there may be worse than thieves in Beauvais,” said Seth, after a pause.  “We’re rather like men at sea without the knowledge of how to handle ropes and set sail—­an extra puff of wind, and we risk being overturned.  There’s something to learn about the methods of these Frenchmen, especially when every man sees a possible enemy in his neighbor.  The gentlemen at Tremont did not much please me, nor was I greatly taken with Monsieur le Comte.”

“We shall have plenty of time to learn their methods, Seth.”

“But in the meanwhile the puff of wind may come, Master Richard.  I don’t like this masked ball.”

“You may trust me to be careful.”

“Your idea of precaution and mine may differ a little,” Seth answered.  “You don’t see danger so far ahead as I do.”

“That may be in my favor,” laughed Richard.  “Be at ease, Seth; I shall do nothing rash.  Neither our blatant friend Sabatier, nor our courteous acquaintance of last night, shall catch me sleeping.  I do not trust men very easily, nor women either, for that matter.”

“Ay, Master Richard, it’s a weight off my mind to know that this Mademoiselle St. Clair has so little attraction about her.  I’ve been young myself and know the power of women.  You’ve not been through that fire yet.”