‘Madness,’ said his grandfather; ’you have then not read your fellow’s letter?’

’I read no letter from fellow of mine.  Yonder is a vile forgery.  Narcisse’s own, most likely.  No one else would have so profaned her as to put such words into her mouth!  My dear faithful foster-brother—­have they murdered him?’

‘Can you point to any proof that it is forged?’ said Lord Walwyn, aware that handwriting was too difficult an art, and far too crabbed, among persons of Osbert’s class, for there to be any individuality of penmanship.

‘It is all forged,’ said Berenger.  ’It is as false that she could frame such a message as that poor Osbert would leave me.’

‘These priests have much power over the conscience,’ began Lord Walwyn; but Berenger, interrupting his grandfather for the first time in his life, cried, ’No priest could change her whole nature.  Oh! my wife! my darling! what may they not be inflicting on her now!  Sir, I must go.  She may be saved!  The deadly sin may be prevented!’

‘This is mere raving, Berenger,’ said Lord Walwyn, not catching half what he said, and understanding little more than his resolution to hasten in quest of the lady.  ’You, who have not mounted a horse, nor walked across the pleasance yet!’

’My limbs should serve me to rescue her, or they are worth nothing to me.’

Lord Walwyn would have argued that he need not regret his incapacity to move, since it was no doubt already too late, but Berenger burst forth—­’She will resist; she will resist to the utmost, even if she deems me dead.  Tortures will not shake her when she knows I live.  I must prepare.’  And he started to his feet.

‘Grandson,’ said Lord Walwyn, laying a hand on his arm, ’listen to me.  You are in not state to judge for yourself.  I therefore command you to desist from this mad purpose.’

He spoke gravely, but Berenger was disobedient for the first time.  ‘My Lord,’ he said, ’you are but my grandfather.  She is my wife.  My duty is to her.’

He had plucked his sleeve away and was gone, before Lord Walwyn had been able to reason with him that there was no wife in the case, a conclusion at which the old statesman would not have arrived had he known of the ceremony at Montpipeau, and all that had there passed; but not only did Berenger deem himself bound to respect the King’s secret, but conversation was so difficult to him that he had told very little of his adventures, and less to Lord Walwyn than any one else.  In effect, his grandfather considered this resolution of going to France as mere frenzy, and so it almost was, not only on the score of health and danger, but because as a ward, he was still so entirely under subjection, that his journey could have been hindered by absolutely forcible detention; and to this Lord Walwyn intended to resort, unless the poor youth either came to a more rational mind, or became absolutely unable to travel.