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More he would have said in the same strain, but Lesperon cut him short and bade him attend to the issue now before hith, but always under the cloud in which ed by my renewed assurances that I could best save myself if Lesperon were not taken with me, the Gascon consented to my proposals

Marsac was on his way to Spain His sister, he told us, awaited him at Carcassonne Lesperon should set out with hiht hours they would be beyond the reach of the King's anger

"I have a favour to ask of you, Monsieur de Marsac," said I, rising; for our business was at an end "It is that if you should have an opportunity of co with Mademoiselle de Lavedan, you will let her know that I am not--not the Lesperon that is betrothed to your sister"

"I will inform her of it, monsieur," he answered readily; and then, of a sudden, a look of understanding and of infinite pity came into his eyes "My God!" he cried

"What is it, ered by that sudden outcry

"Do not ask otten for the moment, in the excitement of all these revelations But--" He stopped short

"Well,at lance, "You had better know," said he "And yet--it is a difficult thing to tell you I understand now much that I had not dreamt of You--you have no suspicion of how you came to be arrested?"

"For ed participation in the late rebellion?"

"Yes, yes But who gave the information of your whereabouts? Who told the Keeper of the Seals where you were to be found?"

"Oh, that?" I answered easily "Why, I never doubted it It was the coxcomb Saint-Eustache I whipped hi in Marsac's black face, solance, that forced the unspoken truth upon my mind

"Mother in heaven!" I cried "Do you mean that it was Mademoiselle de Lavedan?"

He bowed his head in silence Did she hateless than my death appease her, and had I utterly crushed the love that for a little while she had borneherself to hand me over to the headsrief--aye, and with soainst the fates that had brought such things to pass