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both be the victims if the slightest noise awakened him。 But in the
young man's dream the gleam of the lamp； the flame of their eyes； the
colors of the stuffs and the tapestries were more vivid； more of love
was in the air； more fire about them； than there had been in the
actual scene。 The Marie of his sleep resisted far less than the living
Marie those adoring looks； those tender entreaties； those adroit
silences； those voluptuous solicitations； those false generosities；
which render the first moments of a passion so completely ardent； and
shed into the soul a fresh delirium at each new step in love。
Following the amorous jurisprudence of the period； Marie de Saint…
Vallier granted to her lover all the superficial rights of the tender
passion。 She willingly allowed him to kiss her foot； her robe； her
hands； her throat； she avowed her love； she accepted the devotion and
life of her lover； she permitted him to die for her； she yielded to an
intoxication which the sternness of her semi…chastity increased； but
farther than that she would not go； and she made her deliverance the
price of the highest rewards of his love。 In those days； in order to
dissolve a marriage it was necessary to go to Rome； to obtain the help
of certain cardinals； and to appear before the sovereign pontiff in
person armed with the approval of the king。 Marie was firm in
maintaining her liberty to love； that she might sacrifice it to him
later。 Nearly every woman in those days had sufficient power to
establish her empire over the heart of a man in a way to make that
passion the history of his whole life； the spring and principle of his
highest resolutions。 Women were a power in France； they were so many
sovereigns； they had forms of noble pride； their lovers belonged to
them far more than they gave themselves to their lovers； often their
love cost blood； and to be their lover it was necessary to incur great
dangers。 But the Marie of his dream made small defence against the
young seigneur's ardent entreaties。 Which of the two was the reality？
Did the false apprentice in his dream see the true woman？ Had he seen
in the hotel de Poitiers a lady masked in virtue？ The question is
difficult to decide； and the honor of women demands that it be left；
as it were； in litigation。
At the moment when the Marie of the dream may have been about to
forget her high dignity as mistress； the lover felt himself seized by
an iron hand； and the sour voice of the grand provost said to him：
〃Come； midnight Christian； who seeks God on the roofs； wake up！〃
The young man saw the black face of Tristan l'Hermite above him； and
recognized his sardonic smile； then； on the steps of the corkscrew
staircase； he saw Cornelius； his sister； and behind them the provost
guard。 At that sight； and observing the diabolical faces expressing
either hatred or curiosity of persons whose business it was to hang
others； the so…called Philippe Goulenoire sat up on his pallet and
rubbed his eyes。
〃Mort…Dieu！〃 he cried； seizing his dagger； which was under the pillow。
〃Now is the time to play our knives。〃
〃Ho； ho！〃 cried Tristan； 〃that's the speech of a noble。 Methinks I see
Georges d'Estouteville； the nephew of the grand master of the archers。
Hearing his real name uttered by Tristan； young d'Estouteville thought
less of himself than of the dangers his recognition would bring upon
his unfortunate mistress。 To avert suspicion he cried out：
〃Ventre…Mahom！ help； help to me； comrades！〃
After that outcry； made by a man who was really in despair； the young
courtier gave a bound； dagger in hand； and reached the landing。 But
the myrmidons of the grand provost were accustomed to such
proceedings。 When Georges d'Estouteville reached the stairs they
seized him dexterously； not surprised by the vigorous thrust he made
at them with his dagger； the blade of which fortunately slipped on the
corselet of a guard； then； having disarmed him； they bound his hands；
and threw him on the pallet before their leader； who stood motionless
and thoughtful。
Tristan looked silently at the prisoner's hands； then he said to
Cornelius； pointing to them：
〃Those are not the hands of a beggar； nor of an apprentice。 He is a
noble。〃
〃Say a thief！〃 cried the torconnier。 〃My good Tristan； noble or serf；
he has ruined me； the villain！ I want to see his feet warmed in your
pretty boots。 He is； I don't doubt it； the leader of that gang of
devils； visible and invisible； who know all my secrets； open my locks；
rob me； murder me！ They have grown rich out of me； Tristan。 Ha！ this
time we shall get back the treasure； for the fellow has the face of
the king of Egypt。 I shall recover my dear rubies； and all the sums I
have lost； and our worthy king shall have his share in the harvest。〃
〃Oh； our hiding…places are much more secure than yours！〃 said Georges；
smiling。
〃Ha！ the damned thief； he confesses！〃 cried the miser。
The grand provost was engaged in attentively examining Georges
d'Estouteville's clothes and the lock of the door。
〃How did you get out those screws？〃
Georges kept silence。
〃Oh； very good； be silent if you choose。 You will soon confess on the
holy rack；〃 said Tristan。
〃That's what I call business！〃 cried Cornelius。
〃Take him off；〃 said the grand provost to the guards。
Georges d'Estouteville asked permission to dress himself。 On a sign
from their chief； the men put on his clothing with the clever rapidity
of a nurse who profits by the momentary tranquillity of her nursling。
An immense crowd cumbered the rue du Murier。 The growls of the
populace kept increasing； and seemed the precursors of a riot。 From
early morning the news of the robbery had spread through the town。 On
all sides the 〃apprentice；〃 said to be young and handsome； had
awakened public sympathy； and revived the hatred felt against
Cornelius； so that there was not a young man in the town； nor a young
woman with a fresh face and pretty feet to exhibit； who was not
determined to see the victim。 When Georges issued from the house； led
by one of the provost's guard； who； after he had mounted his horse；
kept the strong leathern thong that bound the prisoner tightly twisted
round his arm； a horrible uproar arose。 Whether the populace merely
wished to see this new victim； or whether it intended to rescue him；
certain it is that those behind pressed those in front upon the little
squad of cavalry posted around the Malemaison。 At this moment；
Cornelius； aided by his sister； closed the door； and slammed the iron
shutters with the violence of panic terror。 Tristan； who was not
accustomed to respect the populace of those days （inasmuch as they
were not yet the sovereign people）； cared little for a probable riot。
〃Push on！ push on！〃 he said to his men。
At the voice of their leader the archers spurred their horses towards
the end of the street。 The crowd； seeing one or two of their numbe