And we stood round him trapped, beaten, for all the world like children.

Oh, I could have cried! This was the end of our long ride, our aspirations, our knight-errantry! "Now perhaps you will listen to me," he went on smoothly, "and hear what I am going to do.

I shall keep you here, young gentlemen, until you can serve me by carrying to mademoiselle, your cousin, some news of her betrothed.

Oh, I shall not detain you long," he added with an evil smile.

"You have arrived in Paris at a fortunate moment.