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266 He keeps his ward of me in the courtyard, that I may not pass. You speak of Malincourt to him. You can hide your thoughts; and he would read mine."

They went then together and found Antoine lounging in the courtyard chatting with a group of soldiers. He left them at once and crossed to Lucette, looking displeased that Dauban was with her.

"You have kept me waiting," he said.

"And is that a crime, M. Gaoler?" she answered mockingly, with a toss of the head. "Maybe I was in better company," and she glanced at Dauban, who smiled self-complacently. "Perhaps you would like me to be gyved to you by the wrist."

"Nearer the finger-tips than the wrist would suit me better, Lucette," he laughed.

"Well, a gaoler should be a judge of fetters, but I wear none."

"Not fetters, Lucette; a ring for the left hand," he answered, looking at her with a bold admiration that was little to Dauban's taste.

"We have come to ask you a question, Antoine," he said.

"We?" echoed Antoine, with a sharp glance at Lucette.

"I said 'we.' Lucette has need of certain things from Malincourt and would fain go there in quest of them. I told her there would be no difficulty were you and I to escort her there and back."

"It was very thoughtful of you—but she is my prisoner."

"She will be nobody's prisoner the moment the fugitives are brought in from Crevasse."

"Then she will need no things from Malincourt," returned Antoine sharply, with a knowing smile. But Lucette struck in at once briskly—

"Do you mean I cannot go? Say so openly, if you