“It was simple enough, Baron.  I found twelve men, with Monsieur de la Vallee’s intendant, at Roanne.  Philip, who feared that the vicomte would endeavour to make a further effort to repair his fortune, by carrying your daughter off on the road, sent a messenger to his intendant to ride at once, with twelve men, to meet us; and, had all gone well, they would have joined us fully two days’ journey north of Nevers.  The messenger was attacked on the way, robbed of his letter and purse, and left for dead.  He managed to crawl to Nevers, and there, being too weak and ill to sit a horse, he hired a peasant’s cart and made the journey, slowly and painfully, to la Vallee.  As he knew the purport of the letter, two hours after his arrival there the intendant started, and rode, without drawing bridle, to Roanne.  There, by great good fortune, I found them, though men and horses were alike done up.  Knowing, however, that the vicomte, in his wounded state, and embarrassed with the coach, could proceed but slowly, I let them have seven hours’ sleep, and in the meantime hired fresh horses for them; and we rode that day to Aubusson, and this morning moved down to within five miles of Felletin.  I left a man on the road to Pont Gibaut, and he brought us word that you had left the main road, and were travelling through Croc, so we moved at once to intercept you; and you know the rest.”

Chapter 7:  In Paris Again.

“You have indeed done well, Monsieur Kennedy,” the baron said, when Desmond finished his story.

“Now, let us see to my daughter.  Her maid is attending on her.  She fainted when the fight began.  She is not of a fainting sort, but the trials of the last few weeks, and her belief that de la Vallee was killed, have very much upset her.”

“No wonder,” Desmond said.  “It must have been terrible, indeed, to lose her lover, and to know that she was again in the power of that villain.

“And you, Baron; how did you escape the fate that befell the rest of your convoy?”

“We had ridden close up to the tree, when suddenly there was a discharge of firearms.  The two men with me fell at once.  I was unhurt, but as I turned my horse he fell dead, three bullets having pierced his chest.  Before I could recover my feet, the rascals were upon me.  They evidently intended to take me alive, for they were provided with ropes, and, binding my arms, hurried me back to the carriage.

“By the time we got there, all was over.  My faithful Eustace and the coachman lay dead by the side of the carriage.  They had fought stoutly, for three of the brigands lay beside them.  Six others were scattered near, and the brigands were gathered round a fallen man, who I guessed was their leader.

“I found Anne in a state of the wildest grief.  She told me that she had seen Philip shot by the vicomte, just as he was attacking him, and that you in turn had cut down the villain.