Traitor and True

the Regiment de Roncherolles, had broached to the Prince Chevalier de Beaurepaire the suggestion that he should place himself a

rmandy, he had described to his half-friend and half-employer more than one who would be useful

oman who lived in a decayed, though once fashionable, quarter of Paris and was reported by La

was acquitted. But, with those of her breed, the trial was enough to place her outside the pale. Fortunately it was the King's own court--not a local Norman one--that tried her, and, out

dy almost wearied by this short ac

n keeping faith with it. Therefore she came to Paris, and, while watching those who might become backsliders, learnt that

cannot be great. As yet the bulk o

ugh of women, young as you still ar

said, "she works for h

eplied La Tru

by his Christian name as he often did in these days, "wh

at, for this self-same reason, she will go hand in hand with us in the scheme we have set

nothing mo

ask. She had, as I say, seen you before and--la! la!--admired you. But she was poor, she said, and she must live. As you now know, the Jew brought you and her together, and she was finally vowed h

ce said, while telling himself t

ous to her and she will go hand in hand

for that. And the scaffold i

the time comes--it is at hand

d w

. I live

heme of striving to find himself ruler of France and with, it might be, Louis for his subject instead of his king. He would do it, he would use Emérance de Villiers-Bordéville, as she called herself, to wheedle and hoodwink others, to sow the poison-seed of treachery and anarchy and revolt in their souls, to ride for him to other countries w

been carried out. The money with which he meant to reward her, the money that should enable her to be decently housed, well fed and properly clad and equipped, had not yet been forthcoming. Spain had sent nothing until a few days before, and that only a trifle, since it had been arranged that no money was to be paid until the signal was given in the Gaz

" Then, seeing that although Emérance turned away from the window and faced

ard agitation had momentarily deprived her. A moment later, forgetting that the room in which she was belonged no more to

I can play in your--our, since I am Norman--enterprise. Do so, therefore, I entreat of y

d gentle and his look--that was so often harsh and contemp

the end. I fear nothing in this

herself in place of danger. I ask her on behalf of the Attempt and--well!--of myself, to quit France." Then, seeing that the pallor on the face of Emérance had incre

, "it is not to quit France because I am no longer wanted,

right, or perhaps you know

er, quits France for Italy. Her journey is to be well protected. Even Monsieur le Prince will escort her outside the gates. The guards he commands; the other soldiery

safe from the King's wrath. And, at present, that wrath is a thing that even I must fear since, should it fall on me, it might, nay must, preven

ed on the other. "Ah! That must never be." Then, suddenly, she leant forwa

a flush that, he observed almost with surprise, transformed her from a pale, careworn woman to a beautiful one. "Listen. There sets out with

are too deeply embarked in ou

ncholy; one who may possess that inconvenient thing called a conscience. If this conscience pric

watch those men until they are safe in Switze

e than to wat

exclaimed, astonished. "

elieves in its chance of success. Above al

e, she lo

e scheme to the King, by causing all others who are concerned in it to be

n Basle--in Geneva--in Nancy--she can do it. Who can c

The Dutch fleet will be off Quillebeuf, the men who are to seize on him will be riding in small troops and companies, by divers routes towards Versailles or Fontaineble

terror in her face. "That must never be. No Norman would

e will go at first on the way he has sent many others. To Pignerol perhaps, or out of France. To England."

gelis, the daughter of a French father and English mother, the other is an Englishman named Humphrey Wes

s she not the demoiselle de co

e i

know, or knowin

loved him, and, consequently, that this familiar style of address would be far from displeasing to her. "Listen. The Duchess is une folle, a chatterer.

so long in reaching Louis; if, when it reaches Fontainebleau, or Versailles, he shall be no longer there, how c

zed on during his protectorate. D'Angelis, the girl's late father, was one of Louis' earliest tutors, and Louis loved him and has also been good to his widow and the girl. If either Humphrey West or Jacquett

I have to stop the

, if all leave that place, either for the St. Gothard or for Geneva, thereby to make the passage of the St. Bernard--why, then, let them go. Once out of Basle and on the road to Italy a

caused her to feel as though her heart had turned to ice within her, so wide was the gulf between this man and her, she quickly returned to the matter in question:

utstrip post or horseman, or, failing the possibility of that, follow as swiftly as may be. Thus, Emérance, my friend, my co-plotter, my sweet Norman ally, shall you win the deepest gratitude of Louis de Beaurep