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As I still stood in the doorway to bar all exit there, they sought other ways of egress. The slim Jacques ran past mademoiselle into her room and bolted through the window. Barbemouche managed to go through the rear window of the kitchen, and the fat Antoine tried to follow him, but succeeded only as to his head, arms, and shoulders.
So, in that first day's flight, I had trusted to the speed of my horse, and now there was some reason to believe that Barbemouche had abandoned pursuit, as the soldiers had done who chased me from Paris. And yet, it seemed to me that this ugly Barbemouche was not one to give up his chosen prey so soon. Despite my intention, I feel asleep, and when I awoke it was daylight.
Thus deterred from making a sufficient defence against my sword-play, and as mademoiselle, awakened by the noise, had hastened to her door and was looking on, the four adventurers soon considered that their pretense of battle had lasted long enough. A howl of pain from Barbemouche, evoked by a wound in the groin, was the signal for their general flight.
And he threw up the front of Barbemouche's hat with one hand, at the same time raising the front of his own with the other. The two men regarded each other for a moment. "Praise to the God of Israel, we meet again!" cried Blaise, in a loud voice, catching the other by the throat. "Who are you?" demanded Barbemouche.
"Will the Guisards follow me over this river, also?" I asked myself, as I crossed the Garonne. In the afternoon, I stopped for another look backward. There was not a soul to be seen on the road. "Adieu, M. Barbemouche!" I said. "I believe you have grown tired of me at last." At that instant a group appeared at the distant turn of the road. I counted them. Seven!
De Berquin gave him an ironical bow, kissed the gold pieces before pocketing them, dismounted, and entered the inn, replying only with a laugh to the supplicating looks of the moneyless Barbemouche and his hungry-looking comrades on the bench. "Now I wonder what in the devil's name the governor's secretary was saying to that man?" growled Blaise Tripault.
It was my desire to learn from these men whether or not Barbemouche, or one of them, had borne to M. de la Chatre an account of my hiding-place; for there had been time for one to have done so and returned. It might be that the original plan suggested to the governor by Montignac had been altered and that some other step had been adopted for my capture.
Each in his way moved his lips in his accustomed prayer until the sound of the distant bell ceased. "Now, then, for your dirty blood!" roared Barbemouche, instantly resuming animation. But his fat comrade knocked aside Barbemouche's sword, and at the same time pushed Francois out of striking distance.
Another figure, a limp and cringing one, was that of Frolichard the peasant. Barbemouche gave some orders, and two or three brought horses out of the stable. I knew what all this meant. I turned my horse, and galloped off towards the south. In a few moments I heard the footfalls of galloping horses behind me. Again I was the object of a chase.
"I was but the servant of the Duke of Guise then," said Barbemouche. At this point Blaise, who, in all our experiences with De Berquin and his henchmen, had not while sober come within hearing of Barbemouche's voice, or within close sight of him, stepped up and said, coolly: "Let me see the face that goes with that voice."
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