"Aye, they have. They hope to accomplish it this very day. Mademoiselle
de Canaples has received a letter wherein she is asked to meet her
anonymous writer in the coppice yonder, at the Angelus this evening, if she
would learn news of great importance to her touching a conspiracy against
her father."
"Faugh!" I sneered. "'T is too poor a bait to lure her with."
"Say you so? Believe me that unless she be dissuaded she will comply with
the invitation, so cunningly was the letter couched. A closed carriage
will be waiting at this very spot. Into this St. Auban, Vilmorin, and
their bravos will thrust the girl, then away through Blois and beyond it,
for a mile or so, in the direction of Meung, thereby misleading any chance
pursuers. There they will quit the coach and take a boat that is to be in
waiting for them and which will bear them back with the stream to Chambord.
Thereafter, God pity the poor lady if they get thus far without mishap."
"Mort de ma vie!" I cried, slapping my thigh, "I understand!" And to
myself I thought of the assignation at St. Sulpice des Reaux, and the
reason for this, as also St.
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