A moment or two passed in this way, and then from the hurly-burly in the
gateway the footsteps of two men--one limped--detached themselves and
came nearer and nearer. They stopped without. A gleam of light shone
under the door, and some one knocked.
She went to the door, and, withdrawing the bar, stepped quickly back to
the bedside, where for an instant the light borne by those who entered
blinded her. Then, above the lanthorn, the faces of La Tribe and Bigot
broke upon her, and their shining eyes told her that they bore good news.
It was well, for the men seemed tongue-tied. The minister's fluency was
gone; he was very pale, and it was Bigot who in the end spoke for both.
He stepped forward, and, kneeling, kissed her cold hand.
"My lady," he said, "you have gained all, and lost nothing. Blessed be
God!"
"Blessed be God!" the minister wept. And from the passage without came
the sound of laughter and weeping and many voices, with a flutter of
lights and flying skirts, and women's feet.
She stared at him wildly, doubtfully, her hand at her throat.
"What?" she said, "he is not dead--M. de Tignonville?"
"No, he is alive," La Tribe answered, "he is alive." And he lifted up
his hands as if he gave thanks.
"Alive?" she cried. "Alive! Oh, Heaven is merciful. You are sure? You
are sure?"
"Sure, Madame, sure. He was not in their hands. He was dismounted in
the first shock, it seems, and, coming to himself after a time, crept
away and reached St. Gilles, and came hither in a boat. But the enemy
learned that he had not entered with us, and of this the priest wove his
snare. Blessed be God, who put it into your heart to escape it!"
The Countess stood motionless, and with closed eyes pressed her hands to
her temples. Once she swayed as if she would fall her length, and Bigot
sprang forward to support and save her. But she opened her eyes at that,
sighed very deeply, and seemed to recover herself.
"You are sure?" she said faintly. "It is no trick?"
"No, Madame, it is no trick," La Tribe answered. "M. de Tignonville is
alive, and here."
"Here!" She started at the word. The colour fluttered in her cheek.
"But the keys," she murmured. And she passed her hand across her brow.
"I thought--that I had them."