The Heart of Denise; And Other Tales (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. THE SPUB OF LES ESCHELLES. De Loegnac was gone. Through the open window overlooking the courtyard, that let in the warm summer evening, we heard him give an order to his men in a quick, resolute voice, far different from the low tones in which he had spoken before, and then he and his troop rode off at a rapid trot in the direction, as it seemed, of the Porte St. Honore. I could hardly realize that I was free and that de Lorgnac had resigned me without a struggle. All that I could think of was that he was gone, and with a quick gasp of relief I turned to my friend. " Oh, madame ! How can I thank you ? What shall I say ? " " Say nothing to me, my child, but rather thank the good God that there was a little of honour left in that man. And now, before we start, you must have some refreshment." " I cannot -- indeed, no. I am ready to go at once. I want to put leagues between me and Paris." " You must be guided by me now, Denise/' and as she spoke a servant brought in some soup and a flask of wine. Despite my protests I was forced to swallow something, though I felt that I was choking; yet the little Frontignac I drank, I not being used to wine, seemed to steady my shaking limbs and restore my scattered faculties. As we put on our cloaks and demi-masks preparatory to starting, Madame de Termes kept saying to herself, " I cannot understand -- Blaise de Lorgnac to lend himself to a thing like this ! I would have staked my life on him. There is something behind this, child," and she put a hand on each of my shoulders and looked me full in the eyes. " Have you told me all -- have you withheld nothing ? " " Has he not himself admitted what I said, madame ? If that is not enough I will add every word of what I know;" and as we stood there I detailed w...