"Who could have thought when we parted last, Colonel Campbell, that
we should meet again under such greatly changed circumstances!"
Madame de Blenfoix exclaimed as Hector met the party as they alighted
before the principal inn of Nantes.

"It is a change, indeed," he replied; "so great that I myself
can hardly realize it, and am not sure whether I am sorry or the
reverse at what has taken place."

"I am very glad to hear you say so, as I feared that it would be
a terrible blow to you to give up the army."

"I have hardly had time to think of it," he said, "I have had so
much else to occupy my thoughts. Now, I pray you, enter the inn
for a few minutes; I have warned them to get a meal ready to be
served at the shortest notice, for I am anxious that no time shall
be lost; everything is ready for our embarkation."

"Had we not best go aboard at once?" she said. "Your enemies might
arrive at any moment by what Paolo tells us."

"The matter is not so pressing as I thought, madam, for the cardinal
sent orders to the governor that he is not to open the gates to
any armed party of friends of Beaufort or Vendome until I am fairly
at sea."

He went with the ladies to a private room he had secured.

"I must leave you for a few minutes," he said, "while I have a talk
with MacIntosh and the others."