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young seigneur's ardent entreaties。 Which of the two was the reality？
Did the false apprentice in his dream see the true woman？ Had he seen
in the hotel de Poitiers a lady masked in virtue？ The question is
difficult to decide； and the honor of women demands that it be left；
as it were； in litigation。
At the moment when the Marie of the dream may have been about to
forget her high dignity as mistress； the lover felt himself seized by
an iron hand； and the sour voice of the grand provost said to him：
〃Come； midnight Christian； who seeks God on the roofs； wake up！〃
The young man saw the black face of Tristan l'Hermite above him； and
recognized his sardonic smile； then； on the steps of the corkscrew
staircase； he saw Cornelius； his sister； and behind them the provost
guard。 At that sight； and observing the diabolical faces expressing
either hatred or curiosity of persons whose business it was to hang
others； the so…called Philippe Goulenoire sat up on his pallet and
rubbed his eyes。
〃Mort…Dieu！〃 he cried； seizing his dagger； which was under the pillow。
〃Now is the time to play our knives。〃
〃Ho； ho！〃 cried Tristan； 〃that's the speech of a noble。 Methinks I see
Georges d'Estouteville； the nephew of the grand master of the archers。
Hearing his real name uttered by Tristan； young d'Estouteville thought
less of himself than of the dangers his recognition would bring upon
his unfortunate mistress。 To avert suspicion he cried out：
〃Ventre…Mahom！ help； help to me； comrades！〃
After that outcry； made by a man who was really in despair； the young
courtier gave a bound； dagger in hand； and reached the landing。 But
the myrmidons of the grand provost were accustomed to such
proceedings。 When Georges d'Estouteville reached the stairs they
seized him dexterously； not surprised by the vigorous thrust he made
at them with his dagger； the blade of which fortunately slipped on the
corselet of a guard； then； having disarmed him； they bound his hands；
and threw him on the pallet before their leader； who stood motionless
and thoughtful。
Tristan looked silently at the prisoner's hands； then he said to
Cornelius； pointing to them：
〃Those are not the hands of a beggar； nor of an apprentice。 He is a
noble。〃
〃Say a thief！〃 cried the torconnier。 〃My good Tristan； noble or serf；
he has ruined me； the villain！ I want to see his feet warmed in your
pretty boots。 He is； I don't doubt it； the leader of that gang of
devils； visible and invisible； who know all my secrets； open my locks；
rob me； murder me！ They have grown rich out of me； Tristan。 Ha！ this
time we shall get back the treasure； for the fellow has the face of
the king of Egypt。 I shall recover my dear rubies； and all the sums I
have lost； and our worthy king shall have his share in the harvest。〃
〃Oh； our hiding…places are much more secure than yours！〃 said Georges；
smiling。
〃Ha！ the damned thief； he confesses！〃 cried the miser。
The grand provost was engaged in attentively examining Georges
d'Estouteville's clothes and the lock of the door。
〃How did you get out those screws？〃
Georges kept silence。
〃Oh； very good； be silent if you choose。 You will soon confess on the
holy rack；〃 said Tristan。
〃That's what I call business！〃 cried Cornelius。
〃Take him off；〃 said the grand provost to the guards。
Georges d'Estouteville asked permission to dress himself。 On a sign
from their chief； the men put on his clothing with the clever rapidity
of a nurse who profits by the momentary tranquillity of her nursling。
An immense crowd cumbered the rue du Murier。 The growls of the
populace kept increasing； and seemed the precursors of a riot。 From
early morning the news of the robbery had spread through the town。 On
all sides the 〃apprentice；〃 said to be young and handsome； had
awakened public sympathy； and revived the hatred felt against
Cornelius； so that there was not a young man in the town； nor a young
woman with a fresh face and pretty feet to exhibit； who was not
determined to see the victim。 When Georges issued from the house； led
by one of the provost's guard； who； after he had mounted his horse；
kept the strong leathern thong that bound the prisoner tightly twisted
round his arm； a horrible uproar arose。 Whether the populace merely
wished to see this new victim； or whether it intended to rescue him；
certain it is that those behind pressed those in front upon the little
squad of cavalry posted around the Malemaison。 At this moment；
Cornelius； aided by his sister； closed the door； and slammed the iron
shutters with the violence of panic terror。 Tristan； who was not
accustomed to respect the populace of those days （inasmuch as they
were not yet the sovereign people）； cared little for a probable riot。
〃Push on！ push on！〃 he said to his men。
At the voice of their leader the archers spurred their horses towards
the end of the street。 The crowd； seeing one or two of their number
knocked down by the horses and trampled on； and some others pressed
against the sides of the horses and nearly suffocated； took the wiser
course of retreating to their homes。
〃Make room for the king's justice！〃 cried Tristan。 〃What are you doing
here？ Do you want to be hanged too？ Go home； my friends； go home； your
dinner is getting burnt。 Hey！ my good woman； go and darn your
husband's stockings； get back to your needles。〃
Though such speeches showed that the grand provost was in good humor；
they made the most obstreperous fly as if he were flinging the plague
upon them。
At the moment when the first movement of the crowd took place； Georges
d'Estouteville was stupefied at seeing； at one of the windows of the
hotel de Poitiers； his dear Marie de Saint…Vallier； laughing with the
count。 She was mocking at HIM； poor devoted lover； who was going to
his death for her。 But perhaps she was only amused at seeing the caps
of the populace carried off on the spears of the archers。 We must be
twenty…three years old； rich in illusions； able to believe in a
woman's love； loving ourselves with all the forces of our being；
risking our life with delight on the faith of a kiss； and then
betrayed； to understand the fury of hatred and despair which took
possession of Georges d'Estouteville's heart at the sight of his
laughing mistress； from whom he received a cold and indifferent
glance。 No doubt she had been there some time； she was leaning from
the window with her arms on a cushion； she was at her ease； and her
old man seemed content。 He； too； was laughing； the cursed hunchback！ A
few tears escaped the eyes of the young man； but when Marie de Saint…
Vallier saw them she turned hastily away。 Those tears were suddenly
dried； however； when Georges beheld the red and white plumes of the
page who was devoted to his interests。 The count took no notice of
this servitor； who advanced to his mistress on tiptoe。 After the page
had said a few words in her ear； Marie returned to the window。
Escaping for a moment the perpetual watchfulness of her tyrant； she
cast one glance upon Georges that was brilliant with the fires of love
and hope； seeming to say：
〃I am watching over you。〃
Had she cried the words aloud； she could not have expressed their
meaning more plainly than in that glance； full of a thousand thoughts；
in which terror； hope； pleasure； the dangers of their mutual situation
all took part。 He had passed； in that one moment； from heaven to
martyrdom and from martyrdom back to heaven！ So then； the brave young
seigneur； light…hearted and content； walked gaily to his doom；
thinking that the horrors of the 〃question〃 were not sufficient
payment for the delights of his love。
As Tristan was about leaving the rue du Murier； his people stopped
him； seeing an officer of the Scottish guard riding towards them at
full speed。
〃What is it？〃 asked the provost。
〃Nothing that concerns you；〃 replied the officer； disdainfully。 〃The
king has sent me to fetch the Comte and Comtesse de Saint…Vallier；
whom he invites to dinner。〃
The grand provost had scarcely reached the embankment leading to
Plessis； when the count and his wife； both mounted； she on her white
mule； he on his horse； and followed by two pages； joined the archers；
in order to enter Plessis…lez…Tours in company。 All were moving
slowly。 Georges was on foot； between two guards on horseback； one of
whom held him still by the leathern thong。 Tristan； the count； and his
wife were naturally in advance； the criminal followed them。 Mingling
with the archers； the young page questioned them； speaking sometimes
to the prisoner； so that he adroitly managed to say to him in a low
voice：
〃I jumped the garden wall and took a letter to Plessis from madame to
the king。 She came near dying when she heard of the accusation against
you。 Take courage。 She is going now to speak to the king about you。〃
Love had