“No, it means death!” I answered.  “It means that if Leroux succeeds in killing me, he will kill you, too!  Don’t you see that we must stand together?  Do you suppose that he will share his hoard with you?”

“No, M. Hewlett,” answered Lacroix quietly.  “And that is precisely what I wanted to say to you.  You are not a hog like Leroux; I can trust you.  And then you are a gentleman, and we gentlemen trust each other.  I will give you a share in the gold, and you will get mademoiselle.  She has no love for Louis.  She left him half an hour after the marriage had been performed.  Leroux witnessed the ceremony, and he hurried away with Pere Antoine, and then she ran away.  She loves you!  And Louis will not trouble you!”

“Faugh!” I muttered.  “I don’t want to hear your views on—­on Mlle. Jacqueline, my friend.  But it seems to me that our interests are mutual, and, as it happens, I was on my way back to have it out with Leroux when I stumbled upon this place.”

“But I can show you the way,” he exclaimed.  “Come with me, monsieur.  I don’t know how you got into the wrong passage, but it is simple—­straight ahead.  Come with me!  I will precede you.”

I followed him into the darkness, and very soon heard the sound of the cataract again.  And then once more I was standing at the tunnel entrance, under a brilliant moon, and the chateau was before me.

It was all dark now, except for a glimmer of light that came from two windows on the far side, visible indirectly as a reflection from the snowy steeps beyond.  That must be Duchaine’s room.

Leroux’s I did not know, of course, but I surmised that it was one of those on the same story, which I had passed while making my previous tour of discovery.  But this ignorance did not cause me much concern.  I knew that, once we were face to face together, I should gain the victory over him.

And I would be merciless and not falter.

And Jacqueline!  If I won, should I not keep her?  She was mine, even against her will, by every rule of war.  And this was a world of war, where beauty went to the strong, and all rules but that were scratched from the book of life.

I would not even tread softly now, nor slink within the shadows.  Nor did I fear Lacroix, although he had fallen out of sight behind me.

I strode steadily across the snow and opened the door in the dark wing, entered the hall and ascended the stairway, took the turn to the right and passed through the little hall.  As I had guessed, the light came from Duchaine’s room.

I heard Leroux’s harsh voice within; and if I stopped outside it was not in indecision, but because I meant to make sure of my man this time.

Through the crack of the door I saw old Charles Duchaine nodding over his wheel.  Leroux was standing near him, and in a corner, beside the window, was Jacqueline.  She was facing our common enemy as valiantly as she had done before.  And he was still tormenting her.