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Chemerant will be here shortly; I will ring for Mirette." The chevalier touched the bell. Angela disappeared through the door leading to the duke's private apartments. Mirette appeared. "She is very pretty, this little duchess," mused Croustillac to himself, "very pretty. Oh, this time I am struck to the heart, I know it only too well. I shall never forget her.
That is how I have maneuvered with the frigate. This morning the brigantine joined me, just now I fished you out of the water; now I set sail for France." "The duke will not come on board, then?" asked Croustillac. "The duke? what duke?
"All these dangers make but one, seeing that one can but die once," said the Gascon carelessly. The buccaneer scanned the chevalier closely, and appeared impressed by his courage as much as by the air of frankness and good humor which showed through all his extravagance. The chevalier continued: "The Chevalier de Croustillac never knows fear while he has his sister at his side." "What sister?"
The letters I bring you will show you that the viceroyship of Ireland and Scotland is reserved for you, without counting other favors which are likewise reserved for you and my master, and James Stuart, your uncle, when he is once more on the throne which he will owe to you." "Peste! Viceroy of Scotland and Ireland!" said Croustillac to himself.
In spite of his courage, Croustillac felt his determination waver; the punishment with which they threatened him was fearful. Monmouth was then undoubtedly in safety; the adventurer thought that he had already done much for the duke and for the duchess.
"Because I carry a wallet it does not follow that I ask alms of you, Reverend Father," said Croustillac. "What dost thou want, then?" "I ask a supper and a shelter because your rich convent can well afford to give bread and shelter to poor travelers. Charity commands this from your abbot. And beside, in sheltering Christians, you do not give, you restore.
"It is astonishing how Blue Beard anticipates my demands; and how she facilitates my departure," said Croustillac to himself; "there is something very strange under this. I was not, perhaps, altogether wrong in accusing her of magic or necromancy." Then he continued aloud, "You will go and open the outer gates, Mirette, and tell the blacks to prepare themselves at once.
In any case, I will warn my friends at Devil's Cliff to redouble their prudence, for, I know not why, the presence of this Gascon disturbs me." We will here hasten to inform the reader that the suspicions of Father Griffen, so far as Croustillac was concerned, were without foundation. The chevalier was nothing more than the poor devil of an adventurer which we have shown him to be.
"With this, husband of Blue Beard, and, in the bargain, son and nephew of a king, ah Croustillac, Croustillac, I have well said thy star is in the ascendent it would be too bad that this should be for another. Come on, while it lasts!"
Their eyes burned with ferocity; they would have precipitated themselves upon Croustillac had not the buccaneer, coming out of the hut with a gun in his hand, cried in a species of dialect, part negro, part French, "Who touches my dogs? Who are you that come hither?" The chavalier bravely put his hand on his sword and replied, "Your dogs would devour me, my good fellow, and I foil them.
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