"He will come surely. Never yet has he failed me. But if he were prevented, it would be no grave matter."
"No grave matter?" she repeated anxiously.
"I have learnt all and more than all I came to learn, and there is no longer need for concealment. Parlous as my plight seems, yet I am not in such peril as you deem, Gabrielle."
"I do not understand. What came you to learn?"
"You do not ask me who I am."
"You will tell me in your own time, I know."
"What a trusting heart is yours, Gabrielle! What proof you have given me of your love! Yet I know how I must have tried you. Have you not even guessed why I came?"
"I have tried, but failed hopelessly," she said with a smile. "For me it is enough that you did come."
"You sent certain messages to the Duke of Bourbon. Have you not wondered that no answer came?"
"Are you from great Bourbon? And this Pascal? And the monk who is a prisoner? And the others of whom Pascal spoke? You are to go to Malincourt, where he has gathered a force of men—monks they were, Lucette told me. Is this all a part of it?"
"All," he replied. "We came to gather for ourselves the truth as to this Tiger's doings."
"And you are the leader, then. Oh" she paused and looked in his eyes.
"I am Bourbon's son."
At this she fell back from him in great concern.
"My lord"
"Nay, Gerard to you, Gabrielle, my dearest; always Gerard to you, as you will always be Gabrielle to me. My Gabrielle;" and he stretched out his arms and folded them about her.
"I am frightened, my lord," she cried, burying her face on his shoulder.
