I had ruined the one chance of real happiness that had ever been held out to me, and if the gentlemen of the courts of Toulouse were pleased to send me unheeded to the scaffold, what should it signify?
But there was another matter that did interest me, and that was my interview with Marsac.

Touching this, I spoke to my captor.
"There is a gentleman I wish to see at Grenade this morning.

You have amongst the papers taken from me a letter making this assignation, Monsieur le Capitaine, and I should be indeed grateful if you would determine that we shall break our fast there, so that I may have an opportunity of seeing him.

The matter is to me of the highest importance." "It concerns-- ?" he asked.
"A lady," I answered.
"Ah, yes! But the letter is of the nature of a challenge, is it not?
Naturally, I cannot permit you to endanger your life." "Lest we disappoint the headsman at Toulouse ?" I laughed.

"Have no fear.
There shall be no duel!" "Then I am content, monsieur, and you shall see your friend." I thanked him, and we talked of other things thereafter as we rode in the early morning along the Toulouse road.