Mademoiselle Pointdexter, who had alighted as soon as the carriage stopped, called out, “It is I, Eustace.”

There was an exclamation of surprise and joy, bolts were at once drawn, and the gate thrown open, and an old servitor threw himself on his knees as the girl entered, and, taking the hand she held out to him, put it to his lips.

“Ah, mademoiselle,” he said, while the tears streamed down his cheeks, “what a joyful morning it is!  We have all suffered, and monsieur le baron most of all.  He has spoken but a few words, since you left, but walks up and down the garden as one distraught, muttering to himself, and sometimes even drawing his sword and thrusting it at an invisible enemy.  He is up, mademoiselle.  He has never gone to his bed since you were missing.”

As he spoke, the door of the house opened, and the baron hurried out, with the question, “What is it, Eustace?”

Then, as his eye fell on his daughter, he gave a hoarse cry, and for a moment swayed, as if he would have fallen.  His daughter ran up to him, and threw her arms round his neck.

“Do you return to me safe and well?” he asked, as, after a long embrace, he stepped back and gazed into her face.

“Quite safe and well, father.”

“The Lord be praised!” the baron exclaimed, and, dropping into a garden seat by his side, he burst into a passion of sobbing.

As soon as he had appeared, Desmond had handed over the old woman to Eustace.

“She is a prisoner—­keep a watch over her,” he said.  “She can tell much.  We will take the carriage round to a stable, and must then return at once to Paris, where I must be on duty at seven.  Please inform the baron that I shall do myself the honour of calling, tomorrow, to enquire whether Mademoiselle Pointdexter has suffered from the effects of the fatigue and excitement.  Express my regret that I am obliged to leave at once, but I am sure he will have so much to hear, from his daughter, that it is best they should be alone together, for a time.”

He at once remounted his horse, Mike climbed up on to his seat, and they drove off, and, knocking up the people at some large stables, left the carriage and horses there, telling the proprietors to send to the Baron Pointdexter to know his wishes regarding it.  Then Mike mounted the spare horse, and they started at full speed for Paris, and arrived at the barracks in time for Desmond to take his place at the early parade.

Chapter 4:  At Versailles.

The regiment was on the point of falling in, on the parade ground, when Desmond Kennedy rode up.  Leaping from his horse, he threw the reins to his servant.

“Take them both round to the stables, and put them in spare stalls, Mike.  I will get leave off parade for both of us, and ask the surgeon to dress your wounds properly.”

Then he went up to the colonel, who was just entering the barrack yard.