We were between two fires.  I glanced irresolutely round the bare garret, with its sloping roof, searching for a better weapon.  I had only my dagger.  But in vain.  I saw nothing that would serve.  “What will you do?” Madame de Pavannes murmured, standing pale and trembling by the hearth, and looking from one to another.  Croisette plucked my sleeve before I could answer, and pointed to the box-bed with its scanty curtains.  “If they see us in the room,” he urged softly, “while they are half in and half out, they will give the alarm.  Let us hide ourselves yonder.  When they are inside—­you understand?”

He laid his hand on his dagger.  The muscles of the lad’s face grew tense.  I did understand him.  “Madame,” I said quickly, “you will not betray us?”

She shook her head.  The colour returned to her cheek, and the brightness to her eyes.  She was a true woman.  The sense that she was protecting others deprived her of fear for herself.

The footsteps were on the topmost stair now, and a key was thrust with a rasping sound into the lock.  But before it could be turned—­it fortunately fitted ill—­we three had jumped on the bed and were crouching in a row at the head of it, where the curtains of the alcove concealed, and only just concealed us, from any one standing at the end of the room near the door.

I was the outermost, and through a chink could see what passed.  One, two, three people came in, and the door was closed behind them.  Three people, and one of them a woman!  My heart—­which had been in my mouth—­returned to its place, for the Vidame was not one.  I breathed freely; only I dared not communicate my relief to the others, lest my voice should be heard.  The first to come in was the woman closely cloaked and hooded.  Madame de Pavannes cast on her a single doubtful glance, and then to my astonishment threw herself into her arms, mingling her sobs with little joyous cries of “Oh, Diane! oh, Diane!”

“My poor little one!” the newcomer exclaimed, soothing her with tender touches on hair and shoulder.  “You are safe now.  Quite safe!”

“You have come to take me away?”

“Of course we have!” Diane answered cheerfully, still caressing her.  “We have come to take you to your husband.  He has been searching for you everywhere.  He is distracted with grief, little one.”

“Poor Louis!” ejaculated the wife.

“Poor Louis, indeed!” the rescuer answered.  “But you will see him soon.  We only learned at midnight where you were.  You have to thank M. le Coadjuteur here for that.  He brought me the news, and at once escorted me here to fetch you.”

“And to restore one sister to another,” said the priest silkily, as he advanced a step.  He was the very same priest whom I had seen two hours before with Bezers, and had so greatly disliked!  I hated his pale face as much now as I had then.  Even the errand of good on which he had come could not blind me to his thin-lipped mouth, to his mock humility and crafty eyes.  “I have had no task so pleasant for many days,” added he, with every appearance of a desire to propitiate.