And yet it would have gone ill with us if the fool had been one of his friends.' 'All's well that ends well,' I answered in a low voice, thinking it an ill time for compliments.

As it was, the remark was unfortunate, for M.
de Rosny was still in the act of reining back when Maignan called out to us to say we were being followed.
I looked behind, but could see nothing except gloom and rain and overhanging eaves and a few figures cowering in doorways.

The servants, however, continued to maintain that it was so, and we held, without actually stopping, a council of war.

If detected, we were caught in a trap, without hope of escape; and for the moment I am sure M.do Rosny regretted that he had chosen this route by Blois--that he had thrust himself, in his haste and his desire to take with him the latest news, into a snare so patent.

The castle--huge, dark, and grim--loomed before us at the end of the street in which we were, and, chilled as I was myself by the sight, I could imagine how much more appalling it must appear to him, the chosen counsellor of his master, and the steadfast opponent of all which it represented.
Our consultation came to nothing, for no better course suggested itself than to go as we had intended to the lodging commonly used by my companion.