"It is not that, Monsieur! I do believe you; I do indeed, but--"
"Hark, Mademoiselle!" I cried suddenly, as the clatter of many hoofs
sounded near at hand. "What is that?"
A shout rang out at that moment. "Halt! Who goes there?"
"Mon Dieu!" exclaimed Mademoiselle, drawing close up to me, and again the
voice sounded, this time more sinister.
"Halt, I say--in the King's name!"
The coach came to a standstill, and through the window I beheld the shadowy
forms of several mounted men, and the feeble glare of a lantern.
"Who travels in the carriage, knave?" came the voice again.
"Mademoiselle de Canaples," answered Michelot; then, like a fool, he must
needs add: "Have a care whom you knave, my master, if you would grow old."
"Pardieu! let us behold this Mademoiselle de Canaples who owns so fearful a
warrior for a coachman."
The door was flung rudely open, and the man bearing the lantern--whose rays
shone upon a uniform of the Cardinal's guards--confronted us.
With a chuckle he flashed the light in my face, then suddenly grew serious.
"Peste! Is it indeed you, M.
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