For a moment, torn between his love and his deep distrust of this woman, poor Dan stood uncertainly. Suddenly he knelt at her side and clasped his arms about her. "Claire, you are on our side? You swear it."
"Ah, _mon Dieu_! is it that I deserve this?" she exclaimed bitterly. "Ah! I tell you truth," she cried. "You must believe me--Listen! Are they come already?"
"No, no, there is nothing. But I trust you, I will go."
Suddenly she sprang to her feet. "Let me go with you. It is terrible to me to enter again that room; but I desire to prove myself of honour. _Allous, allous_!"
"Ah! send him here to the bar. But do you come, _mon ami_. See, I go with you." She rose and forcing herself to the effort, led the way across the bar and into the corridor of the north wing, as if to show him that in sixteen years she had not forgotten.
"You know the way?" Dan exclaimed as he caught up with her, and held open the door that led into the old north wing.
"But so well," she replied, catching her breath. "Would to God that I did not!"
"Ah!" he murmured, "I forgot that you have been here before."
They pressed on silently. At the turn of the corridor upon which the Oak Parlour gave, they discerned Tom Pembroke, a weird figure, in the dim light of the tallow dip upon the table, that cast fantastic shadows upon the whitewashed walls.
As he recognized them, he sprang forward in astonishment. "Madame de la Fontaine! Dan! What does this mean?" he cried.
"You know Madame?" Dan replied hastily and in evident confusion. "At great risk she has come to warn us--she is our friend, understand.--She has come to tell us how Bonhomme and his men will attack the Inn."
Tom listened to his explanation with unconcealed dismay. "Good heavens, Dan!" he protested, "You trust this woman? You know she is in league with these ruffians. Do you want us to fall into a trap?"
"No, no, Monsieur Pembroke," interrupted Madame de la Fontaine, "you must listen to me. I understand your fear. But at last you can trust me. I repent that which I have done. Ah, _mon Dieu_, with what bitterness! And now I desire to do all that is possible to save you. You must trust me."
"I do not--I can not trust you," Tom cried sternly. "Don't go in there, Dan. Don't I beg of you, trust this woman's word. It is a trick."