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254 "He would take me to Malincourt itself if I asked him, I think," she replied with the air in which she had referred to Antoine before; and Pascal smiled. "He offered once, asking if I did not need some things from there."

"Good! Be there at noon at the gate by the cedars at the south end of the gardens, and I will see to the rest. And now, you had better go. Wait—one question. Do you know aught of de Proballe?"

"He is with the Governor, and both are away in the city."

"And that spy of his, Dauban. When the soldiers searched Malincourt they found him where I had put him in one of the cellars, and carried him away with them."

"He is here in the Castle, monsieur. I've seen him."

"The devil he is! He must not see me. Twice he has slipped through my fingers, but it shall go harder with him the third time. He is dangerous."

"He is not dangerous to me, monsieur."

"What, another?" cried Pascal, laughing. "Why, mademoiselle, I begin to fear for myself."

"Monsieur!" said Lucette, using her eyes.

"You are a witch, Lucette, with those eyes of yours. But if you can get hold of this Dauban, lead him away from these lower rooms for an hour while I am still here, or you may have one admirer the less."

"You mean—M. Dauban?" she asked coquettishly.

"On my soul, it's in your very blood, mademoiselle. But I am shot-proof," he laughed, shrugging his shoulders.

"At noon, then, by the cedar gate—that is how we call it."

"Yes, at the cedar gate; and till then—good fortune to you."

With a last coquettish glance and a smile, Lucette went to the door, opened it cautiously, peeped out, and stepped back hurriedly.