"I would not have had either of them hurt," said Gabrielle, when Gerard joined her and they resumed the ride to the maison.
"A kindliness worthy of your gentle heart, Gabrielle. But I am differently cast, I fear. It would not have hurt him. He has stirred much dirty water in Morvaix, and if he had had to carry away a little of a different kind in his mouth and on his clothes it would have served him right. But he has had a good fright, and that's something; and if you are glad no worse has chanced to him, why I am glad also. I would rather he had a dry skin than you be displeased."
"It is best as it is, Gerard, although—it would have served him right;" and she laughed and added: "I could almost have wished we had not ridden up in time."
"Nay, it gave the people a chance of seeing more evidence of your sweet nature, Gabrielle. How they cheered you! 'Twas a good-humoured crowd, too."
"You have changed the temper of the people almost as if by the wave of a wizard's wand."
"Not I. 'Twas you they cheered. They know whom to thank. Your popularity is so great that you set me a difficult task to rival it."
"How different from that angry sullen mob that faced the soldiers when we first met—and but little more than a week ago." And in this easy happy fashion they chatted until Malincourt was reached.
On the terrace they found Lucette and Denys, now fast on the road to recovery, in converse with Dubois.
"I was chiding Captain Dubois for leaving us, Gabrielle," cried Lucette smiling. "But he has an iron will—shot-proof against any arguments."
"I wish you could persuade him to remain, Lucette," said Gerard. "I have tried to bribe him with the offer of the command of the troops here, but he is, as you say, iron, and insists on leaving to-morrow with d'Alembert."
