CHAPTER V
THE OPEN ROAD
"Ye heard what he said? That the child is in his apartments in the castle?" O'Rourke asked Chambret.
The three men—Chambret, Charles, and Bosquet, the surgeon—were kneeling around the body of the prince. That man dead, his plan for the continuance of the duel was abandoned by mutual consent. Charles, for one, was ghastly, livid, plainly with neither heart nor stomach for another fight.
Chambret looked up from the face of the dying man.
"I heard," he said grimly.
O'Rourke stood above him, pulling down his cuffs composedly, and holding his coat and hat beneath his arm.
"What are ye going to do?" demanded Chambret.
"Go out for a breath of air, mon ami," replied the Irishman. "I'll carry the good news to madame, if ye've no objection."
"Ah, my friend, I thank you."
"Say no more about it, me boy."
He walked steadily to the door, pulled it open, after unbolting, and stepped out, closing it behind him. The duchess was instantly by his side, her hands stretched forth in an agony of supplication.
"Monsieur, monsieur!" she cried. "You are not hurt?"
"Not a word for Chambret!" he thought. "I must get out of this, and quickly." Aloud: "Not even scratched," he lied, to baffle commiseration, and kept his arm by his side.
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