Montr?sor's comely young face looked monstrous wicked in the moonlight, and
his eyes rolled curiously as he beheld me. Stepping up to him I freed him
of his gag--an act which I had almost regretted a moment later, for he
cleared his throat with so lusty a torrent of profanity that methought the
heavens must have fallen on us. At last when he was done with that--
"Before you leave me in this plight, M. de St. Auban," quoth he, "perchance
you will satisfy me with an explanation of your unfathomable deeds and of
this violence."
"St. Auban!" exclaimed the Chevalier.
"St. Auban!" cried Yvonne.
And albeit wonder rang in both their voices, yet their minds I knew went
different ways.
"No, not St. Auban," I answered with a laugh and putting aside all
counterfeit of speech.
"Par la mort Dieu! I know that voice," cried Montr?sor.
"Mayhap, indeed! And know you not this face?" And as I spoke I whipped
away my wig and mask, and thrust my countenance close up to his.
"Thunder of God!" ejaculated the boy. Then--"Pardieu," he added, "there is
Michelot! How came I not to recognise him?"
"Since you would not assist me, Montr?sor, you see I was forced to do
without you.
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