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Updated: July 16, 2025
Then, while the German and the Spaniard fell back swearing, he turned joyously to Nevers, for his quick ear caught the sound of galloping on the distant highway. "Good cheer, brother! I hear horses. My men are coming. Lagardere! Lagardere!" Nevers responded joyously, "I am here! Victory!"
What do you mean?" Lagardere answered him, gravely: "At this moment Mademoiselle de Nevers is nestled in my arms." Nevers echoed him, astonished: "My daughter, in your arms?" Lagardere came quite close to the duke and showed him the bundle cradled in his elbow. "See for yourself; but step gently, for the young lady's sleep must be respected." Nevers gave a gasp of surprise. "What has happened?"
"I will tell you all about it," said Lagardere. "It happened three months ago. That secret thrust piqued me. Then people talked too much about Nevers; that irritated me. Wherever I went, from court to camp, from tavern to palace, the name of Nevers was dinned in my ears. The barber dressed your hair
Æsop did likewise, and while the bravos drew back towards the wall to allow a free space for the lesson the two swordsmen came on guard. Lagardere explained while he fenced, naming each feint and lunge and circle of the complicated attack as he made it.
Gonzague dropped the burning paper from his fingers, and it fell in ashes upon the floor. Lagardere lifted his sword in triumph. "The dead speaks! There was nothing written on that paper. His name was not there, but his own deed has set it there." The eyes of all were fixed upon the face of Gonzague, and the face of Gonzague was an ugly sight to see.
When the boat and its burden were out of sight, and the water ran as smoothly as if it were troubled with no such secret, Lagardere turned, and, gathering up the garments of his antagonist as a Homeric hero would have collected his fallen enemy's armor, rolled them into as small a bundle as possible, and, putting them under his arm, made his way cautiously back to the Inn.
"The moat of Caylus," Lagardere answered. He pointed to the window at which Æsop had been sitting so long. "You can see it from that window." There was a general look of astonishment on the faces of all the bravos. Passepoil, quick with his Norman caution, glanced at Staupitz and the group about him, and put his finger cautiously to his lips. Cocardasse was still inquisitive.
Æsop spoke, contemptuously: "Peyrolles is a bungler. Leave it to me. I will find Lagardere for you and deal with him as he deserves before an hour has passed." Gonzague caught at his words eagerly. "You promise?" Æsop answered, proudly: "On the word of a hunchback. Before two o'clock I will bring you the news you wish for." Gonzague gave a cry of triumph. "Then ask and have your own reward."
The chamber from which the window opened was unilluminated, and the light in the moat was so dim that Lagardere could only perceive the vague outline of a woman's head and shoulders leaning forward into the darkness.
"Because, thanks to you, I gave the signal agreed upon her husband's motto, 'I am here." The princess clasped her hands. "My God, sire, it is true." "And these papers are in your hands?" the king asked. Lagardere answered, quietly: "They are in the hands of Mademoiselle de Nevers." Gonzague looked triumphantly from Lagardere to the king.
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