They entered the gateway, Madame La Tour's cheeks tingling richly from
the effort of climbing. She saluted her garrison, and her garrison
saluted her, each with a courteous pride in the other, born of the joint
victory they had won over D'Aulnay de Charnisay when he attacked the
fort. Not a man broke rank until she entered her hall. There was a
tidiness about the inclosure peculiar to places inhabited by women. It
added grace even to military appointments.

"You miss the swan, madame," noted Klussman. "Le Rossignol is out
again."

"When did she go?"

"The night after my lord and you sailed northward. She goes each time in
the night, madame."

"And she is still away?"

"Yes, madame."

"And this is all you know of her?"

"Yes, madame. She went, and has not yet come back."

"But she always comes back safely. Though I fear," said Madame La Tour
on the threshold, "the poor maid will some time fall into harm."

He opened the door, and stood aside, saying under his breath, "I would
call a creature like that a witch instead of a maid."