I did not know what he was about; but
muttering something to Marie, I followed the lad to see. At the
foot of the flight of stairs I looked back, Marie and the servant
were standing in suspense, where I had left them. I heard the
latter bid us angrily to return.
But by this time Croisette was at the end of the corridor; and
reassuring the fellow by a gesture I hurried on, until brought to
a standstill by a man opening a door in my face. He had heard
our returning footsteps, and eyed me suspiciously; but gave way
after a moment with a grunt of doubt I hastened on, reaching the
door of the room in which we had supped in time to see something
which filled me with grim astonishment; so much so that I stood
rooted where I was, too proud at any rate to interfere.
Bezers was standing, the leering priest at his elbow. And
Croisette was stooping forward, his hands stretched out in an
attitude of supplication.
"Nay, but M. le Vidame," the lad cried, as I stood, the door in
my hand, "it were better to stab her at once than break her
heart! Have pity on her! If you kill him, you kill her!"
The Vidame was silent, seeming to glower on the boy.
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