“He is, in fact, a desperate man, and his only hope is in making a wealthy alliance.  Therefore, putting aside his pique and anger at having failed, the temptation to again obtain possession of Anne is great, indeed.  Once married to her he could, even if the king kept him in banishment, well maintain his position as a country magnate.”

“But Mademoiselle de Pointdexter cannot come into the estates until her father’s death.”

“Not his estates, but those of her mother, who was also a wealthy heiress, and of which she will enter into possession either on coming of age or on marrying.  So, you see, he can afford to disregard the enmity of her father, as well as the displeasure of the king, which probably would soon abate after the marriage took place.  If I had known, when I left home, what had happened, and that if she was found we should be returning home, I would have brought with me a dozen stout fellows from my own estate.  As it is, I sent off a messenger, yesterday, with an order to my majordomo to pick out that number of active fellows, from among the tenantry, and to start with the least possible delay by the route that we shall follow, of which I have given him particulars.  He is to ride forward until he meets us, so that when he joins us, we shall be too strong a party for any force that the vicomte is likely to gather to intercept us.”

“A very wise precaution, Philip; but we shall be far upon our way, before this reinforcement can come up.”

“We shall be some distance, I admit.  My messenger will take fully five days in going.  He will take another day to gather and arm the tenants, so that they will not start until two days afterwards.  Then, however, they will travel at least twice as fast as we shall, hampered as we are by the carriage.  I should have suggested that Anne should ride on a pillion, behind me or her father, but I did not do so, because it would have been necessary to explain to him my reasons for suggesting the change; and, moreover, I felt sure that he would not agree to it, had I done so.  Baron Pointdexter is one of the largest landowners in Languedoc, and although one of the kindest and best of men, he has his full share of family pride, and would consider that it was derogatory to his position for his daughter to be riding about on a pillion, like the wife or daughter of some small landed proprietor or tenant farmer, instead of in a carriage, as becomes her station.  Therefore, I must accept the situation, carriage and all, and I can only hope that this villain will not attempt to interfere with us before my men join us.