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Leaping as far into the roadway as I could, I turned tothe stool as a buckler, I caught his thrust upon it So violently was it delivered that the point buried itself in the wood and the blade snapped, leaving hiht Charging hioons caainedthe reins frodown the street at a gallop, gripping tightly with my knees, whilst the stirrups, which I had had no tis

A pistol cracked behindpain in the shoulder warned me that I was hit But I took no heed of it then The wound could not be serious, else I had already been out of the saddle, and it would be tih to look to it when I had outdistanced my pursuers I say my pursuers, for already there were hoofbeats behind entlemen had taken to their horses But, as you may recall, I had on their arrival noted the jaded condition of their cattle, whilst I bestrode a horse that was comparatively fresh, so that pursuit had but save h upon a half-hour I rode, before I could be said to have got clear of the, resolved to hound ht cull upon their way

I was come by then to the Garonne I drew rein beside the swiftly flowing strea silver between the black shadows of its banks A little while I sat there listening, and surveying the stately, turreted chateau that loorey, noble pile, beyond the water I speculated what deht be, and I realized that it was probably Lavedan

I pondered what I had best do, and in the end I took the resolve to swiates If it were indeed Lavedan, I had but to announce myself, and to one of my name surely its hospitalities would be spread If it were some other household, even then the name of Marcel de Bardelys should suffice to ensure me a welcome