and then take a wide detour and ride for Nantes."

Hector returned to the hotel.

"We must mount at once," he said to the troopers; "my enemies have
failed twice, but they might not fail the third time, and by
tomorrow morning it is certain that the hotel will be watched. I
have a pass to issue out through the gate at once."

While he had been away the troopers had bandaged each other's wounds,
and had packed their valises, for they thought it probable after
what had happened that their master would be obliged to fly.

As the horses were being saddled and brought out Hector saw the
innkeeper and paid him his bill.

"Monsieur," he said, "I am going away on business of the cardinal's,
and he desires that none shall know that I have left; therefore
I pray you keep the matter secret as long as you can. It may be
reasonably supposed that after the fray in which we have just been
engaged, we might well keep our beds for a day or two."

Going out in the courtyard, he gave a couple of crowns to the
hostler.

"You are like to be asked tomorrow if we are still here," he said.
"Give such answers as to lead them to believe that our horses are
still in the stalls."

They mounted and rode rapidly through the streets to the northern