remain to give her counsel.

Her first inquire was after the watch-tower. She did not care for
any discomfort if her vassals would be faithful, and hold it out
for her, till she could send for help to the allies of her
husband's house, and her eyes glanced as she spoke.

But Blaise shook his head. He had looked at the tower as Madame
bade, but it was all in ruins, crumbling away, and, moreover, M. le
Chevalier had put a forester there--a grim, bad subject, who had
been in the Italian wars, and cared neither for saint nor devil,
except Chevalier Narcisse. Indeed, even if he had not been there,
the place was untenable, it would only be getting into a trap.

'Count Hebert held it out for twelve days against the English!'
said Eustacie, proudly.

'Ah! ah! but there were none of your falconets, or what call you
those cannons then. No; if Madame would present herself as a
choice morsel for Monsieur le Chevalier to snap up, that is the
place.'

Then came the other plan of getting an escort of the peasants
together, and riding with them towards the Huguenot territories
around La Rochelle, where, for her husband's sake, Eustacie could
hardly fail to obtain friends. It was the more practicable
expedient, but Blaise groaned over it, wondered how many of the
farmers could be trusted, or brought together, and finally
expressed his intention of going to consult Martin, his staunch
friend, at the next farm. Meantime, Madame had better lie down and