the troopers will accompany you as an escort. Your road will lead
through Orleans, which will be almost halfway, and you will also
pass through Tours. At both these towns you can, if you will, stay
for a day to rest. I will ride down with you into Blenfoix, where
I shall be able to get paper and pens, and will write letters to
Captain MacIntosh and to my intendant explaining exactly the position
that you will occupy. One of the troopers will ride forward with
these from your last halting place before you arrive there, in order
that you may find everything prepared and be received properly on
your arrival. Do you both ride, or would you rather have a pillion's
place behind the troopers?"

"We both ride," she said; "but I should prefer, on a journey like
this, that my daughter should ride behind me on a pillion. You are
altogether too good, Colonel Campbell. You are heaping kindnesses
upon us."

"Not at all, madam. And now you will doubtless be glad to hear
that in searching round the place this morning, we have discovered
that two of your horses that had doubtless been turned loose by the
peasants have found their way back. No difficulty will therefore
arise on that score. The saddles are hanging from the beams in
the stable, so that everything is in readiness for your departure."

A quarter of an hour later the whole party left the ruined chateau,
the troops taking their way to the point at which they had left
the road, while Hector with his four troopers and Paolo rode down
into Blenfoix with the ladies. Here the baroness purchased a few
necessaries for the journey while Hector was writing his letters.
Hunter and Macpherson were to form their escort, and were by turns