human
De Roquemaure.
gpt
Tell me all you know, St. Georges said to the woman a few moments later.
human
How he came here, how he was set upon and done to death? I must ride on and on to-night, yet ere long, if I can compass it, I will return to Troyes and never leave it until I have found my child and know all. Tell me.
gpt
He came here, she said,
human
The dawn, St. Georges whispered to himself.
gpt
The dawn of five days ago, when D'Arpajou's horse rode into the town. The day Dorine was lost.
human
Then, the woman continued,
gpt
Ah!
human
Yet not so fast but that two others who had left the gate behind him came swifter than he. One, a man, young and supple, clad in the De Roquemaure russet--no need of that to tell me that devil had a hand in what was to be done; the other, a woman, all in sombre black, a mask upon her face.
gpt
A woman in it!
human
Ho! said the peasant,
gpt
Go on.
human
Swiftly they came behind him, yet silently, too, the man ahead of the woman, each on different sides of the way, the former outstripping the latter, so fast did he come. Then, at last, the hunted one, this dead one here, knew that it was so; he turned and saw he was pursued. At first he made as though about to run for it; then, because, may be, the burden he bore was heavy, he paused. Next he placed the child upon the ground--for now I knew, I saw, what it was as he did so--and he drew his sword with one hand, took a pistol from his belt and held it in the other, and so awaited his pursuer.
gpt
Go on.
human
The other came swiftly up, paused once himself--perhaps he feared the doubly armed man--then looked round at the masked woman, who seemed to say something. Doubtless she urged him on, and again he came forward until he and the fugitives were face to face.
gpt
Yes,
human
What they said I know not; I was too far away. But their action was swift. De Roquemaure's man made as though he would seize upon the child lying at the roadside--the disguised woman creeping ever nearer--when the other fired his pistol at him, and missed. I saw that as the smoke cleared away, for when it had done so they were closely engaged with their swords. Some passes they made; once it seemed as if the fugitive won upon the other, for I saw his blade go through his left sleeve; then, ere he could recover himself, the other had thrust his sword through his body--I heard him shriek; I saw him fall! A moment later the woman had snatched up the child and was hurrying back to the city, the man following after her, his left arm hanging straight by his side, as though still from pain. And I ran to this one here and saw that he had got his death. 'Tis strange he died not sooner than to-night. Strange he should linger so long.
gpt
How got you him here?
human
My brother, who hates the De Roquemaures as I do--as God knows I have cause to do--works near here on his farm. I dragged that dead creature, all insensible as he was, into the copse, then fetched Jean, and so, together, we brought him. Say, the woman continued, leaning forward under the lamp to regard the soldier fixedly,
gpt
If brought home to him, perhaps. But the nobles are powerful. You say that he is so, especially in this neighbourhood.
human
Curse him, yes! she replied, her livid lips drawn tight together.
gpt
Yet not forever. There are those who will set the snare and trap him yet.
human
I pray God! St. Georges replied.
gpt
He has wronged many; surely justice will yet be done.
human
I MUST SPEAK!