For my part, I thought less of our coming encounter than of the success of the scheme which I had laid for Marie's safety.

And I believe that the duke, on his part, gave equally small heed to the fight; for the smile of triumph or satisfaction flitted now and again across his face, called forth, I made no doubt, by the pleasant conviction which Mlle.

Delhasse had instilled into his mind, and which had caused him to dub me a fool for risking my life in the service of a woman who had promised all he asked of her.
But the sun sank; the best of the light went; and the officers from Pontorson did not come.

It was hard on six.
"If we fight to-night, we must fight now!" cried the duke suddenly.

"What the plague has become of the fellows ?" "It's not too dark for me," said I.
"But it soon will be for me," he answered.