In three or four minutes, he came to the door of the chamber, and beckoned to Desmond to enter.

“The sound of your name has roused him from the lethargy, into which he seemed sinking,” he whispered.  “When I told him that I could not allow you to enter, until he had taken the draught that I gave him, he swallowed it eagerly.”

Desmond went up to the bedside, and took the hand which lay on the coverlet.  The pressure was slightly returned, and Philip’s lips moved, but he spoke so faintly that Desmond had to lean over him, to hear the words.

“I am glad, indeed, that you are safe and sound.  I have been reproaching myself, bitterly, that I should have brought you into this fatal business.  As to the rest of it, I dare not even think of it; but I shall die all the easier for knowing that you have escaped.”

“I escaped for a good purpose, Philip.  I have good news for you.  Monsieur le Baron and mademoiselle are on their way to Pointdexter, under the guard of your men.”

“Is it possible, Desmond, or are you only saying it to rouse me?”

“Not at all, Philip.  You do not suppose that, even for that purpose, I would hold out false hopes to you; or tell an untruth on a matter so vital to your happiness.”

Philip’s eyes closed, but his lips moved, and Desmond knew that he was returning thanks to God for this unlooked-for news.

“How did it happen?” Philip said, after a silence of some minutes.

His voice was much stronger than before, and there was a faint touch of colour in his cheeks.  The surgeon nodded approvingly to Desmond, and murmured, “I think that he will live.”

“It is too long a story to tell you in full, now,” Desmond said.  “Seeing that all was lost, that you were down, and that further resistance was absolutely fruitless, Mike and I cut our way out; the more easily since I had struck down their leader, de Tulle, and most of his band had crowded round him.  At Roanne I found your men, who had just arrived there.  It matters not now why they had been detained.  I got fresh horses for them and rode for Correze, placed an ambush, and turned the tables upon them.  Mike shot the vicomte, and we easily defeated his followers, and rescued the baron and his daughter.  I sent them to Pointdexter under charge of your intendant and followers, and rode hither, hoping against hope that I might find you still alive.  Your two men, who came on here, could have told you that I had escaped.”

“I did not allow them to speak to monsieur,” the surgeon said, “or even to see him.  They are below, greatly grieved at being refused entry; but I told them that any agitation might be fatal to their master, and that they could do nothing for him if they came up; for indeed, up to the time when we extracted the ball, he was unconscious.

“And now, monsieur, I think that it were best you should retire.  I shall give Monsieur de la Vallee a soothing draught.  A night’s rest will be of vital importance to him.  And now that you have relieved his mind of the load that has evidently weighed upon him, I think there is little doubt that he will soon fall asleep.”