her horse； and pulled it across the road to bar his way。
It was almost completely night by now； but from behind the wrack of
clouds overhead a crescent moon sailed out to alleviate the darkness。
〃Come； now；〃 she enjoined him。 〃Be reasonable。 Do as I bid you。
See； there is a carriage coming up behind you。 Do not let us be
found here together thus。〃
He made up his mind quickly。 He was not the man to be actuated by
false heroics about dying； and he had no fancy whatever for the
gallows of M。 de Lesdiguieres' providing。 The immediate task that
he had set himself might be accomplished。 He had made heard … and
ringingly … the voice that M。 de La Tour d'Azyr imagined he had
silenced。 But he was very far from having done with life。
〃Aline； on one condition only。〃
〃And that？〃
〃That you swear to me you will never seek the aid of M。 de La Tour
d'Azyr on my behalf。〃
〃Since you insist； and as time presses； I consent。 And now ride on
with me as far as the lane。 There is that carriage coming up。〃
The lane to which she referred was one that branched off the road
some three hundred yards nearer the village and led straight up the
hill to the chateau itself。 In silence they rode together towards
it； and together they turned into that thickly hedged and narrow
bypath。 At a depth of fifty yards she halted him。
〃Now！〃 she bade him。
Obediently he swung down from his horse； and surrendered the reins
to her。
〃Aline；〃 he said； 〃I haven't words in which to thank you。〃
〃It isn't necessary；〃 said she。
〃But I shall hope to repay you some day。〃
〃Nor is that necessary。 Could I do less than I am doing？ I do not
want to hear of you hanged； Andre； nor does my uncle； though he is
very angry with you。
〃I suppose he is。
〃And you can hardly be surprised。 You were his delegate； his
representative。 He depended upon you； and you have turned your coat。
He is rightly indignant； calls you a traitor； and swears that he
will never speak to you again。 But he doesn't want you hanged；
Andre。〃
〃Then we are agreed on that at least； for I don't want it myself。〃
〃I'll make your peace with him。 And now … good…bye； Andre。 Send me
a word when you are safe。〃
She held out a hand that looked ghostly in the faint light。 He took
it and bore it to his lips。
〃God bless you； Aline。〃
She was gone； and he stood listening to the receding clopper…clop of
hooves until it grew faint in the distance。 Then slowly； with
shoulders hunched and head sunk on his breast； he retraced his steps
to the main road； cogitating whither he should go。 Quite suddenly
he checked； remembering with dismay that he was almost entirely
without money。 In Brittany itself he knew of no dependable
hiding…place； and as long as he was in Brittany his peril must
remain imminent。 Yet to leave the province； and to leave it as
quickly as prudence dictated； horses would be necessary。 And how
was he to procure horses； having no money beyond a single louis
d'or and a few pieces of silver？
There was also the fact that he was very weary。 He had had little
sleep since Tuesday night； and not very much then； and much of the
time had been spent in the saddle； a wearing thing to one so little
accustomed to long rides。 Worn as he was； it was unthinkable that
he should go far to…night。 He might get as far as Chavagne； perhaps。
But there he must sup and sleep； and what； then； of to…morrow？
Had he but thought of it before； perhaps Aline might have been able
to assist him with the loan of a few louis。 His first impulse now
was to follow her to the chateau。 But prudence dismissed the
notion。 Before he could reach her； he must be seen by servants；
and word of his presence would go forth。
There was no choice for him； he must tramp as far as Chavagne； find
a bed there； and leave to…morrow until it dawned。 On the resolve
he set his face in the direction whence he had come。 But again he
paused。 Chavagne lay on the road to Rennes。 To go that way was to
plunge further into danger。 He would strike south again。 At the
foot of some meadows on this side of the village there was a ferry
that would put him across the river。 Thus he would avoid the
village； and by placing the river between himself and the immediate
danger； he would obtain an added sense of security。
A lane； turning out of the highroad； a quarter of a mile this side
of Gavrillac； led down to that ferry。 By this lane some twenty
minutes later came Andre…Louis with dragging feet。 He avoided the
little cottage of the ferryman； whose window was alight； and in the
dark crept down to the boat； intending if possible to put himself
across。 He felt for the chain by which the boat was moored； and
ran his fingers along this to the point where it was fastened。
Here to his dismay he found a padlock。
He stood up in the gloom and laughed silently。 Of course he might
have known it。 The ferry was the property of M。 de La Tour d'Azyr；
and not likely to be left unfastened so that poor devils might cheat
him of seigneurial dues。
There being no possible alternative； he walked back to the cottage；
and rapped on the door。 When it opened； he stood well back； and
aside； out of the shaft of light that issued thence。
〃Ferry！〃 he rapped out； laconically。
The ferryman； a burly scoundrel well known to him； turned aside to
pick up a lantern； and came forth as he was bidden。 As he stepped
from the little porch； he levelled the lantern so that its light
fell on the face of this traveller。
〃My God！〃 he ejaculated。
〃You realize； I see； that I am pressed；〃 said Andre…Louis； his eyes
on the fellow's startled countenance。
〃And well you may be with the gallows waiting for you at Rennes；〃
growled the ferryman。 〃Since you've been so foolish as to come
back to Gavrillac； you had better go again as quickly as you can。
I will say nothing of having seen you。〃
〃I thank you； Fresnel。 Your advice accords with my intention。 That
is why I need the boat。〃
〃Ah； that； no；〃 said Fresnel； with determination。 〃I'll hold my
peace； but it's as much as my skin is worth to help you。
〃You need not have seen my face。 Forget that you have seen it。〃
〃I'll do that； monsieur。 But that is all I will do。 I cannot put
you across the river。〃
〃Then give me the key of the boat； and I will put myself across。〃
〃That is the same thing。 I cannot。 I'll hold my tongue； but I
will not … I dare not … help you。〃
Andre…Louis looked a moment into that sullen； resolute face； and
understood。 This man； living under the shadow of La Tour d'Azyr；
dared exercise no will that might he in conflict with the will of
his dread lord。
〃Fresnel；〃 he said； quietly； 〃if； as you say； the gallows claim me；
the thing that has brought me to this extremity arises out of the
shooting of Mabey。 Had not Mabey been murdered there would have
been no need for me to have raised my voice as I have done。 Mabey
was your friend； I think。 Will you for his sake lend me the little
help I need to save my neck？〃
The man kept his glance averted； and the cloud of sullenness
deepened on his face。
〃I would if I dared； but I dare not。〃 Then； quite suddenly he became
angry。 It was as if in anger he sought support。 〃Don't you
understand that I dare not？ Would you have a poor man risk his life
for you？ What have you or yours ever done for me that you should ask
that？ You do not cross to…night in my ferry。 Understand that；
monsieur； and go at once … go before I remember that it may be
dangerous even to have talked to you and not give information。 Go！〃
He turned on his heel to reenter his cottage； and a wave of
hopelessness swept over Andre…Louis。
But in a second it was gone。 The man must be compelled； and he had
the means。 He bethought him of a pistol pressed upon him by Le
Chapelier at the moment of his leaving Rennes； a gift which at the
time he had almost disdained。 True； it was not loaded； and he had
no ammunition。 But how was Fresnel to know that？
He acted quickly。 As with his right hand he pulled it from his
pocket； with his left he caught the ferryman by the shoulder； and
swung him round。
〃What do you want now？〃 Fresnel demanded angrily。 〃Haven't I told
you that I。。。 〃
He broke off short。 The muzzle of the pistol was within a foot of
his eyes。
〃I want the key of the boat。 That is all； Fresnel。 And you can
either give it me at once； or I'll take it after I have burnt your
brains。 I should regret to kill you； but I shall not hesitate。 It
is your life against mine； Fresnel； and you'll not find it strange
that if one of us must die I prefer that it shall be you。〃
Fresnel dipped a hand into his pocket； and fetched thence a key。
He held it out to Andre…Louis in fingers that shook … more in anger
than in fear。
〃I yield to violence；〃 he said； showing his teeth like a snarling
dog。 〃But don't imagine that it will greatly profit you。〃
Andre…Louis took the key。 His pistol remained levelled。
〃You threaten me； I think；〃 he said。 〃It is not difficult to read
your threat。 The moment I am gone； you will run to inform against
me。 You will set the marechaussee on my heels to overtake me。〃
〃No； no！〃 cried the other。 He perceived his peril。 He read his
doom in the cold； sinister note on which Andre…Louis addressed him；
and grew afraid。 〃I swear to you； monsieur； that I have no such
intention。〃
〃I think I had better make quite sure of you。〃
〃0 my God！ Have mercy； monsieur！〃 The knave was in a palsy of
terror。 〃I mean you no harm … I swear to Heaven I mean you no harm。
I will not say a word。 I will not。。。 〃
〃I would rather depend upon your silence than your assurances。
Still； you shall have your chance。 I am a fool； perhaps； but I have
a reluctance to shed blood。 Go into the house； Fresnel。 Go； man。
I follow you。〃
In the shabby main room of that dwelling； Andre…Louis halted him
again。 〃Get me a length of rope；〃 he commanded； and was readily
obeyed。
Five minutes later Fresnel was securely bound to a chair； and
effectively silenced by a very uncomfortable gag improvised out of
a block of wood and a muffler。
On the threshold the departing Andre…Louis turned。
〃Good…night；