Instead he lay here, not only powerless to guide his destiny, which hung on the discretion of another, but unable to stretch forth a finger to further his plans.
As he sat looking darkly at the lanthorn, his mind followed Biron and his riders through the midnight streets along St.Antoine and La Verrerie, through the gloomy narrows of the Rue la Ferronerie, and so past the house in the Rue St.Honore where Mademoiselle sat awaiting the morrow--sat awaiting Tignonville, the minister, the marriage! Doubtless there were still bands of plunderers roaming to and fro; at the barriers troops of archers stopping the suspected; at the windows pale faces gazing down; at the gates of the Temple, and of the walled enclosures which largely made up the city, strong guards set to prevent invasion.
Biron would go with sufficient to secure himself; and unless he encountered the bodyguard of Guise his passage would quiet the town.

But was it so certain that _she_ was safe?
He knew his men, and while he had been free he had not hesitated to leave her in their care.

But now that he could not go, now that he could not raise a hand to help, the confidence which had not failed him in straits more dangerous grew weak.
He pictured the things which might happen, at which, in his normal frame of mind, he would have laughed.

Now they troubled him so that he started at a shadow, so that he quailed at a thought.

He, who last night, when free to act, had timed his coming and her rescue to a minute! Who had rejoiced in the peril, since with the glamour of such things foolish women were taken! Who had not flinched when the crowd roared most fiercely for her blood! Why had he suffered himself to be trapped?
Why indeed?
And thrice in passion he paced the room.