But as you say, sir, I am not the Provost-Marshal.' Paying little heed to his words, we bowed, passed him, and hurried on.
But the peril was not over.

Not only had the RENCONTRE cost us some precious minutes, but the Gascon, after letting us proceed a little way, followed us.

And word being passed by his servants, as we supposed, that one of us was the murderer of Father Antoine, the rumour spread through the crowd like wildfire, and in a few moments we found ourselves attended by a troop of CANAILLE who, hanging on our skirts, caused Simon Fleix no little apprehension.

Notwithstanding the contempt which M.
d'Agen, whose bearing throughout was admirable, expressed for them, we might have found it necessary to turn and teach them a lesson had we not reached M.de Rambouillet's in the nick of time; where we found the door surrounded by half a dozen armed servants, at sight of whom our persecutors fell back with the cowardice which is usually found in that class.
If I had been tempted of late to think M.de Rambouillet fickle, I had no reason to complain now; whether his attitude was due to M.d'Agen's representations, or to the reflection that without me the plans he had at heart must miscarry.

I found him waiting within, attended by three gentlemen, all cloaked and ready for the road; while the air of purpose, which sat on his brow indicated that he thought the crisis no common one.