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Rh served us magnificently, my good friend; and that last trick of yours may have saved our lives."

They ran to Gabrielle and explained the failure of the venture, and started to return to Babillon's.

It was a galling disappointment, but neither Gerard nor Dubois was likely to waste time in fruitless repining; and by the time they reached Babillon's house, both had thought their way to the same decision. They must make for Malincourt.

Gabrielle wished it also.

"The two points are—what has happened there, and can we hope to reach there safely?" said Gerard, as he and Dubois sat discussing it, Gabrielle having again gone to seek rest.

"I would that I had been in the cell with the Governor," growled Dubois. "It would have gone hard with me if I had not found a way to end his power to do us more evil."

"We are soldiers, Dubois," said Gerard.

"We shan't be soldiers long if the Tiger can get his way with us."

"My cousin will be up in forty-eight hours."

"Forty-eight minutes may suffice for what he may do if he but gets his hand on us."

"He will not dare to use violence to me," said Gerard. "His head would pay for it."

"But it wouldn't put either yours or mine back on our shoulders, my lord, if he'd struck them off first. And as for daring—what won't a madman dare? And a madman he is. My advice is to keep out of his clutches so long as we can."

"And what we have to consider is the best way of doing it. Tell me, Babillon, what chance have we of reaching Malincourt undiscovered, and what is the distance?"

"Twenty minutes would take us there, could we go