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Updated: June 18, 2025
I think I foresaw already what was coming. "I am Louis de Pavannes," he replied with impatience. I stared at him in silence: thinking thinking thinking. And then I said slowly, "You have a cousin of the same name?" "I have." "He fell prisoner to the Vicomte de Caylus at Moncontour?" "He did," he answered curtly. "But what of that, sir?" Again I did not answer at once. The murder was out.
He broke off, whistling softly. It was clear that he recognised Madame de Pavannes, and recognised her with astonishment. The bed creaked as I craned my neck to see what would follow. Even the priest seemed to think that some explanation was necessary, for he did not wait to be questioned.
Madame de Pavannes," I went on, addressing myself to her, "you know the way home from here to your house!" "Oh, yes," she cried. "That is well," I answered. "Then we will start. Your sister is sufficiently recovered now, I think. And we will not risk any further delay."
And then he stood and looked at us four, but principally at his rival; and looked, and looked with eyes of smouldering hate. And there was a silence, a long silence, while the murmur of the crowd came almost cheerfully through the window, and the sparrows under the eaves chirped and twittered, and the heart that throbbed least painfully was, I do believe, Louis de Pavannes'!
"In the Rue de Saint Merri, close to the church. We have a house there." "M. de Pavannes," I suggested cunningly, "is doubtless distracted by your disappearance." "Oh, surely," she answered with earnest simplicity, while the tears sprang to her eyes. Her innocence she had not the germ of a suspicion made me grind my teeth with wrath. Oh, the base wretch! The miserable rascal!
We had warned Madame de Pavannes it was true; but that abnormal exercise of benevolence could only, I cynically thought, have the more exasperated the devil within him, which now would be ravening like a dog disappointed of its victuals. I glanced up at the line of sky visible between the tall houses, and lo! the dawn was coming.
It goes without saying that I would not think of putting you, M. Anne, to any trouble for the sake of that rascal of mine. But my people will expect something. Let the plaguy fellow who caused all this disturbance be given up to me, that I may hang him; and let us cry quits." "That is impossible!" I answered coolly. I had no need to ask what he meant. Give up Pavannes' messenger indeed! Never!
"M. de Pavannes," he said, pushing rather rudely between us, "will sup alone to-night. For you, gentlemen, this way, if you please." I went without remonstrance. What was the use? I was conscious that the Vidame from the top of the stairs leading to the grand entrance was watching us with a wolfish glare in his eyes. I went quietly. But I heard Croisette urging something with passionate energy.
She followed the direction of my eyes, started, and laughed a little oddly. But she fetched the weapon. "Take it, and do not," she urged, "do not lose time. Do not mention me to Pavannes. Do not let the white badges be seen as you return. That is really all. And now good luck!" She gave me her hand to kiss. "Good luck, my knight-errant, good luck and come back to me soon!"
But we could not guess what his plans were; since he must have ordered his people before he heard of Catherine's engagement. Either his jealousy therefore had put him on the alert earlier, or his threatened attack on Pavannes was only part of a larger plot. In either case our errand seemed more urgent, but scarcely more hopeful.
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