Page:A courier of fortune (1904).djvu/352

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A COURIER OF FORTUNE

share in the day's work. "I wonder what has happened."

"We can find that out; I will question some of the men," he replied. "But I would rather know what is going to happen."

"I am afraid we shall find that out too quite as quickly as we wish;" and Lucette glanced nervously about her at the men who were guarding the prisoners. She gave a little shiver of fear as her eyes fell on the Governor's seat, and speculated anxiously what the ceremonious and somewhat terrifying preparations boded to them all. From that her gaze passed to the soldiers gathered about the daïs, whom she scrutinized closely; and just as Pascal returned from questioning their fellow-prisoners, she uttered an exclamation of surprise and pleasure.

"Monsieur Pascal," she whispered eagerly, "there is Captain Dubois."

"Dubois? Where?"

"There, among the soldiers on the right of the Governor's seat: thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth—yes, fifteenth in the second row, counting from the daïs to the right. I am sure it's he. Do you see him?"

"See him? I see more than him. Every man in the ranks there is ours, and Bassot himself is in command. We shall see something before we are many hours older, or I am no Bourbon."

"Where can Gabrielle be? And M. Gerard?"

"So far as I gather, he is a prisoner; but the men here know little. There has been a riot in the market-place; and these are some of the rioters. They have been told only that they are to be tried now."

"Then they cannot have reached Malincourt. Oh, I wonder what they will do to us," cried Lucette.

"I know how I would punish you were I the judge."

"I would trust you," she smiled.

"You wouldn't like the punishment any more than I