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Updated: June 9, 2025
Wait until I am in Toulouse, my malapert friend." Castelroux drew himself up, straight as a rapier, his face slightly flushed and his glance angry, yet he had the presence of mind to restrain himself, partly at least. "I have my orders from the Keeper of the Seals, to effect the apprehension of Monsieur de Lesperon; and to deliver him up, alive or dead, at Toulouse.
It was not until an hour later, when we were again in the saddle and upon the last stage of our journey, that I offered Castelroux an explanation of my seemingly mad attack upon Chatellerault. "You have done a very rash and unwise thing, monsieur," he had commented regretfully, and it was in answer to this that I poured out the whole story.
But the favour lost much of its value in his eyes when presently I added that I did not wish the seconds to engage, since the matter was of so very personal a character. Mironsac and Castelroux, assisted by Saint-Eustache, closed the heavy portecochere, and so shut us in from the observation of passers-by.
To distinguish us, he is always known as Mironsac, and I as Castelroux. Peste! It is not the only distinction, for while he basks in the sunshine of the great world of Paris they are wealthy, the Mironsacs of Castelvert I, a poor devil of a Gascony cadet, am playing the catchpoll in Languedoc!"
A second later, I created a diversion by landing in the midst of the courtyard fray, with the alarmed Castelroux who imagined that I was escaping following by the same unusual road, and shouting as he came "Monsieur de Lesperon! Hi! Monsieur de Lesperon! Mordieu! Remember your parole, Monsieur de Lesperon!"
Unless I acted quickly blood would assuredly be shed. I was the one man who could explain matters, and it was a mercy for Lesperon that I should have been at hand in the hour of his meeting that fire-eater Marsac. I forgot the circumstances in which I stood to Castelroux; I forgot everything but the imminent necessity that I should intervene.
I had determined upon this course while we were supping, for Castelroux was now my only hope, and as we rode beneath the stars of that September night I made known to him my true identity.
Castelroux engaged a private room on the first floor a handsome chamber overlooking the courtyard and in answer to the inquiries that I made I was informed by the landlord that Monsieur de Marsac was not yet arrived. "My assignation was 'before noon, Monsieur de Castelroux," said I. "With your permission, I would wait until noon." He made no difficulty. Two hours were of no account.
Swift the suspicion of his errand broke upon my mind. "He has betrayed the Vicomte?" I half inquired, half asserted. Castelroux nodded. "He has obtained a warrant for his apprehension from the Keeper of the Seals, and is gone to execute it. In the course of a few days Lavedan will be in danger of being no more than a name.
But now it took on a look of relief and of something that suggested malicious cunning. "That," said Castelroux in my ear, "is the King's commissioner." Did I not know it? I never waited to answer him, but, striding across the room, I held out my hand over the table to Chatellerault. "My dear Comte," I cried, "you are most choicely met."
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