de
Pavannes' courier! This must be stopped! We cannot stand this,
Anne!"
"They shall pay dearly for it, by our Lady!" I cried swearing
myself. "And in peace time too--the villains! Gil! Francis!" I
shouted, "where are you?"
And I looked round for my fowling piece, while Croisette jumped
on the wall, and forming a trumpet with his hands, shrieked at
the top of his voice, "Back! he bears a letter from the
Vicomte!"
But the device did not succeed, and I could not find my gun. For
a moment we were helpless, and before I could have fetched the
gun from the house, the horseman and the hooting rabble at his
heels, had turned a corner and were hidden by the roofs.
Another turn however would bring them out in front of the
gateway, and seeing this we hurried down the ramp to meet them.
I stayed a moment to tell Gil to collect the servants, and, this
keeping me, Croisette reached the narrow street outside before
me. As I followed him I was nearly knocked down by the rider,
whose face was covered with, dirt and blood, while fright had
rendered his horse unmanageable.
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