“Well, then, it seems that the only thing that we can do is to see that the servants all keep their pistols charged, and are prepared to do their duty in case of sudden attack.  Of course, at present they have no idea that any special danger threatens us; but I shall tell them, before I start in the morning, that we fear the road is dangerous owing to a band of robbers reported to be in the forest, and that they must hold themselves in readiness for action, in case we fall in with any of them.  Old Eustace and the coachman have both got arquebuses.  I shall tell them that, should they be attacked, they are to fire at once, and then the coachman is to whip up his horses and drive at full speed, while we endeavour to keep off the assailants.”

“That would be of use, if the assailants should be for the most part on foot, but I think it more likely that they will be mounted, and however fast this lumbering carriage might go, they could easily keep up with it.  Fight as hard as we may, the carriage must be overtaken if they are in sufficient force to overpower us.  I should think that it would be well that you should warn Mademoiselle de Pointdexter that we hear the road is not very safe, and that, if there is trouble, she is on no account to attempt to leave the carriage.  As long as she remains there she will run but little risk, for you may be sure that de Tulle will have issued the strictest orders that no pistol is to be fired in its direction.  I have also little doubt that he has ordered the baron’s life to be respected, because his death would greatly add to the anger that would be excited by the attack, and would also put a barrier between him and mademoiselle, who would naturally regard him with even more hostility than before, as the author of her father’s death.  Therefore, I trust that in any case his life and hers will not be endangered, however numerous our assailants might be.”

“Yes, I have no doubt that that is so, Desmond, though I am sure that, were I wounded and on the point of death, I would rather know that Anne had fallen by a chance shot, than that she was in the power of this villain.”

The next morning, they started very early for Moulins, for the journey would be a longer one than usual, and the road through the forest would probably be so rough, that the pace must necessarily be very slow.  At two o’clock, the men riding ahead noticed that a tree had fallen across the road, and one of them galloped back and informed the baron of it.

“That is strange,” the latter said.  “There have been no storms for the past two days.  It must have fallen quite recently, for otherwise the news would have been taken to the nearest commune, whose duty it would be to see at once to its removal.”

Philip de la Vallee had, as the servant was speaking, glanced at Desmond.  To both, it seemed that this obstacle could scarcely be the result of an accident.

“I will see how large the tree is,” the baron said.  “Whatever be its size, it is hard if eight men and four horses cannot drag it off the road.”