CHAPTER XXIII
LUCETTE AS DECOY
THE Governor returned to the Castle in a somewhat less violent mood. The report that the fugitives had been seen and identified at Crevasse was so precise and definite that he was confident they would now be recaptured, and it was in this confident mood that he himself carried the news to his wife.
Lucette was with her and had just told her that Gabrielle was safe at Malincourt, when he arrived, gloating at the thought of his coming triumph and brutally profuse in threats as to the punishment he would inflict. As soon as he had left, Lucette slipped away to put her own plan into operation.
She did not go to Antoine at once in the courtyard, but hung about until she saw Dauban and then put herself, as if by chance, in his way, and when she was sure he had seen her she made a great show of surprise and turned as if to hurry away from him. It was well acted.
"So you avoid me, mademoiselle?" he said, going after her.
"How dare you speak to me?" she cried indignantly.
"Fine airs for a prisoner," he retorted.
"You are a noble fellow, indeed, to taunt a poor girl, Master Dauban. But have a care what you say. If I am a prisoner, I am in the charge of one who won't see me insulted. Antoine de Cavannes is a man with a stouter arm than Master Dauban, any day," and she tossed her pretty head and turned again on her heel.
This had just the effect she had calculated. He had
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