Spurring his horse, he entered the town with face uncovered, dashed through people who called him by name, astonished to see him free and on horseback, when they expected to see him bound and in a tumbrel on his way to be executed.

Catching sight of his guardian angel pushing through the crowd, not to see him executed, but to meet him, he urged his horse past the executioner, who had just learned of the disappearance of one of his patients, knocking over two or three bumpkins with the breast of his Bayard.

He bounded toward her, swung her over the pommel of his saddle, and, with a cry of joy and a wave of his hat, he disappeared like M.de Conde at the battle of Lens.

The people all applauded, and the women thought the action heroic, and all promptly fell in love with the hero on the spot." Roland, observing that Sir John was silent, paused and questioned him by a look.

"Go on," replied the Englishman; "I am listening.