"No stranger surely than the messenger chosen to ride to Passey and bid the young Duke to Vayenne. Besides, a priest may enter where a soldier would be refused. These are perilous times, mademoiselle, and I come to tell you so."
"In this matter you can tell me little I do not know," she answered.
"Then you do not ride to Vayenne to-morrow?"
"Yes—with the Duke." And she watched the priest closely to see if he were astonished at this information.
"With the same escort as came with you to Passey?"
"I think I have sufficiently answered you," she said.
"Mademoiselle, I have travelled all night to serve you. You must not ride to Vayenne to-morrow. It has been arranged that your party is to be attacked by a strongly armed party of robbers, and defeated. Your soldiers will make a show of fight, but for the most part they are bought men. You will escape, there is no desire to hurt you, but the Duke will be slain."
"You shall tell this to the captain of our escort."
"One moment, mademoiselle," he said as she moved to the door.