"I have below six troopers and a sergeant of the Seneschal's regiment; with myself and Rabecque we are nine men in all.

That should be a sufficient guard, mademoiselle.

Nor do I think that with all their power the Condillacs will venture here to claim you at the sword point." "And yet," she answered, for all that she was plainly reassured, at least in part, "I would rather you had got me a horse, that we might have ridden to Saint Marcellin, where no doubt a carriage might be obtained." "I did not see the need to put you to so much discomfort," he returned.
"It is raining heavily." "Oh, what of that ?" she flung back impatiently.
"Besides," he added, "it seems there are no horses at the post-house.

A benighted place this Dauphiny of yours, mademoiselle." But she never heeded the gibe at her native province.

"No horses ?" she echoed, and her hazel eyes looked up sharply, the alarm returning to her face.