Saddle as you never saddled before," he continued in a low tone, "or--" His tongue did not finish the threat, but his hand waved the man away.

"For you"-- he held Tignonville an instant with his lowering eye--"and the preaching fool with you, get arms and mount! You have never played aught but the woman yet; but play me false now, or look aside but a foot from the path I bid you take, and you thwart me no more, Monsieur! And you, Madame," he continued, turning to the Countess, who stood bewildered at one of the doors, the Provost's daughter clinging and weeping about her, "you have three minutes to get your women to horse! See you, if you please, that they take no longer!" She found her voice with difficulty.

"And this child ?" she said.

"She is in my care." "Bring her," he muttered with a scowl of impatience.

And then, raising his voice as he turned on the terrified gang of hostlers and inn servants who stood gaping round him, "Go help!" he thundered.