“I think that he would be sure to come that way, sir, for if he followed the road on to Limoges questions might be asked.  At any rate, sir, we might post a man at Aubusson, and another at Pont Gibaut, as he might make from that town to Felletin through the village of Croc.  How many men has he with him?”

“That I cannot tell you.  Some twenty mounted men, under his own leading, attacked the carriage.  Two were shot by Eustace and the coachman.  I disposed of two more, and my soldier servant of another.  The two mounted men and the two servants probably killed two or three more, at least, before they themselves fell, so that the vicomte would only have some twelve mounted men with him.  But there was another party in ambush, and I cannot say how strong they were; but probably, altogether, there would be twenty.

“There are ten of your men, after sending two off to Moulins.  Now there is yourself, my servant, and I, so we shall be thirteen.  With the advantage of surprise, I think that we may calculate upon an easy victory, especially as I imagine that the men employed in the affair are not de Tulle’s own retainers, but some robber band that he hired for the purpose; and these, having no special interest in the matter beyond earning the pay, are not likely to make any very determined resistance.”

Desmond now went back to the hotel where he had put up his horse.  He found Mike awaiting him there, and the latter was delighted when he heard the news of the arrival of the party from la Vallee.  Desmond’s purse was but lightly furnished, and as he saw that the expenses might be heavy, he went to a jeweller’s.

“I want to borrow fifty louis,” he said, “on this ring.  It is, I imagine, worth a good deal more, since it was a present to me from the king.”

The jeweller examined the ring carefully.

“It is a valuable one, indeed, sir,” he said, “and I would willingly lend you double as much upon it.”

“Well, we will say seventy-five, then,” Desmond said.  “I think that will be ample for my purpose.”

Having received the money, he returned to the inn, accompanied by Mike; and went round to the various stables in the town, where he hired fifteen horses.  These were to be taken to the Soleil, at three in the morning, and the men who brought them were to take back the tired horses as security.

At that hour, the party started, and after a ride of some thirty-five miles reached Clermont, where they stabled the horses for six hours.  Late that evening they arrived at Aubusson, having accomplished a journey of some seventy miles.  One of the men had been left at Pont Gibaut, with orders to take a fresh horse and ride on to Aubusson, if the party they were in search of passed through the town.

At Aubusson, Desmond took a fresh horse and rode back to Pont Gibaut, enquiring at all the villages along the road whether a party of twenty men had been seen to cross the road, at any point.  Then he took four hours’ sleep, and at daybreak started back again, making fresh enquiries till he arrived at Aubusson.  He was convinced that the band had not, at that time, crossed the road on its way south.