and that it was not like chasing the hare in Dorset.  His calf-love for Madame de Selinville had entirely faded away in his yearnings after home.  She was only one of the tediously recurring sights of his captivity, and was loathed like all the rest.  The regulation rides with the Chevalier were more detestable than ever, and by and by they caused such fatigue that Berenger perceived that his strength must be warning, and became so seriously alarmed that one evening, when Philip had barely dragged himself to the hall, tasted nothing but a few drops of wine, and then dropped into an uneasy slumber in his chair, he could not but turn to the Chevalier an appealing, indignant countenance, as he said, in a low but quivering voice, ‘You see, sir, how he is altered!’

’Alas! fair nephew, it is but too plain.  He is just of the age when such restraint tells severely upon the health.’

Then Berenger spoke out upon the foul iniquity of the boy’s detention.  For himself, he observed, he had nothing to say; he knew the term of his release, and had not accepted them; but Philip, innocent of all damage to the Ribaumont interests, the heir of an honourable family, what had he done to incur the cruel imprisonment that was eating away his life?

‘I tell you, sir,’ said Berenger, with eyes filled with tears,’ that his liberty is more precious to me than my own.  Were he but restored to our home, full half the weight would be gone from my spirit.’

‘Fair nephew,’ said the Chevalier, ’you speak as though I had any power in the matter, and were not merely standing between you and the King.’

‘Then if so,’ said Berenger, ’let the King do as he will with me, but let Philip’s case be known to our Ambassador.’

‘My poor cousin,’ said the Chevalier, ’you know not what you ask.  Did I grant your desire, you would only learn how implacable King Henri is to those who have personally offended him—­above all, to heretics.  Nor could the Ambassador do anything for one who resisted by force of arms the King’s justice.  Leave it to me; put yourself in my hands, and deliverance shall come for him first, then for you.’

‘How, sir?’

’One token of concession—­one attendance at mass—­one pledge that the alliance shall take place when the formalities have been complied with—­then can I report you our own; give you almost freedom at once; despatch our young friend to England without loss of time; so will brotherly affection conquer those chivalrous scruples, most honourable in you, but which, carried too far, become cruel obstinacy.’