" Then he spoke directly to me, and said, "You shall
guard this passage till morning. No one but myself may pass into
this room or out of it, save the Sisters of Mercy, on pain of
death."
I saluted, but spoke no word.
"You understand me?" he repeated.
"Absolutely, monsieur," I answered in a rough peasantlike voice.
He turned and walked in a leisurely way through the passage, and
disappeared, telling Gabord to join him in a moment. As he left,
Gabord said to me in a low voice, "Get back to General Wolfe, or
wife and life will both be lost."
I caught his hand and pressed it, and a minute afterwards I was
alone before Alixe's door.
An hour later, knowing Alixe to be alone, I tapped on her door
and entered. As I did so she rose from a priedieu where she had
been kneeling. Two candles were burning on the mantel, but the room
was much in shadow.
"What is't you wish?" she asked, approaching.
I had off my hat; I looked her direct in the eyes and put my fingers
on my lips. She stared painfully for a moment.
"Alixe," said I.
She gave a gasp, and stood transfixed, as though she had seen a
ghost, and then in an instant she was in my arms, sobs shaking her.
"Oh, Robert! oh my dear, dear husband!" she cried again and again.
I calmed her, and presently she broke into a whirl of questions.
I told her of all I had seen at the cathedral and at the convent,
what my plans had been, and then I waited for her answer.
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