“You see, we were right, count,” another of the horsemen said.  “The description of the man who rode along here with two attendants tallies with that of this Scot, and doubtless this order was brought by him from Mazarin to enable him to get either by water away abroad or to his chateau of la Villar.”

“Well, gentlemen, at any rate we have done our best, and though we must have slain the fellow if we had overtaken him, I cannot say that I am altogether grieved that he has escaped.  His name is well known to everyone.  He did brave service to France under Turenne and Conde.  We learned from the messenger who brought the letter from Beaufort that he killed de Beauvais in fair fight, wounded de Vipont, and disarmed the Comte de Marplat, that at night he and five of his followers, though attacked by some thirty ruffians from the faubourgs under Beaufort himself, killed twelve of them outright, and that he himself seriously wounded the duke.  Well, there is nothing for us but to ride back to the village we last passed through and wait there until tomorrow.”

So saying, he mounted his horse and galloped off with his party.

“Who could have thought when we parted last, Colonel Campbell, that we should meet again under such greatly changed circumstances!” Madame de Blenfoix exclaimed as Hector met the party as they alighted before the principal inn of Nantes.

“It is a change, indeed,” he replied; “so great that I myself can hardly realize it, and am not sure whether I am sorry or the reverse at what has taken place.”

“I am very glad to hear you say so, as I feared that it would be a terrible blow to you to give up the army.”

“I have hardly had time to think of it,” he said, “I have had so much else to occupy my thoughts.  Now, I pray you, enter the inn for a few minutes; I have warned them to get a meal ready to be served at the shortest notice, for I am anxious that no time shall be lost; everything is ready for our embarkation.”

“Had we not best go aboard at once?” she said.  “Your enemies might arrive at any moment by what Paolo tells us.”

“The matter is not so pressing as I thought, madam, for the cardinal sent orders to the governor that he is not to open the gates to any armed party of friends of Beaufort or Vendome until I am fairly at sea.”

He went with the ladies to a private room he had secured.

“I must leave you for a few minutes,” he said, “while I have a talk with MacIntosh and the others.”

“Well, old friend,” he said as he went out to where the little party of Scotchmen were standing in a group, “what are your plans and wishes?  ’Tis a pity now that I persuaded you to leave Paris and go down to la Villar, but I did it for the best.  I thought of you much as I rode hither.”

“Do not trouble about me, colonel, I am by no means sorry at the change.  I was getting tired of the cabaret, and should soon have given it up even had you not come to offer me the wardenship of your chateau.  I have chatted matters over with my two friends, and we have not yet agreed whether to return to Scotland or to remain in France.  At any rate we shall go to Paris first; my money is there all in good keeping, together with the two years’ payment for the cabaret.  Are you thinking of going to Scotland yourself, colonel?”