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Page 24
Julie noticed the passing shadow in his face and she knew it to be the
sign of alarm.
"What is it, Mr. Scott?" she asked. "Do you know of any danger?"
"No," he replied truthfully, because he had dismissed his thought as
incredible, "but you will not remain here, Miss Julie. You and your
servant will go to the hospital camp, will you not? It is not much more
than a mile beyond the river."
But to his surprise she shook her head.
"I must stay in Chastel," she said. "It is here that Philip wished me to
come, and if I am not here when he arrives he will not know where to
find me. And there is no danger. You know that, Mr. Scott. If Antoine
really saw German lances as he claims, it is no proof that German
horsemen will come to Chastel, running into danger. What have they to
gain by raiding a ruined town?"
"There is much reason in what you say. Certainly it would avail the
Germans nothing to gallop through shattered Chastel in a snowstorm. But
you can't spend the night in the church. I've no doubt that we can find
bed and board for all of us in some abandoned house."
The driving snow had reconciled John somewhat to the idea of Julie
passing the night in Chastel. The road leading down to the river was
steep and the bridge over which he had crossed was narrow with a very
high arch. A motor might easily miss the way in the darkening storm, and
then meet disaster.
Julie looked at him inquiringly as if she wished his indorsement of her
plan, although her lips were closed tightly.
"Of course you'll stay, Miss Julie," he said, "and I'll stay too,
although I'm not invited."
"You're invited now."
"Thanks. Consider me a follower, or rather a dragoman, to use the
eastern term."
Then he said to Antoine in French:
"Mademoiselle Lannes is resolved to remain tonight in Chastel. She
thinks that if her brother were to come her absence would upset all his
plans."
Picard nodded. His was the soul of loyalty.
"It is right," he said. "It is here that Monsieur Philip expects to find
her and we can guard her."
John liked the inclusive "we."
"And now to work, Antoine and Suzanne," he said. "We've agreed that we
can't spend the night in the cathedral. Perhaps there is no better
refuge so far as the storm is concerned, but a pew is not a good bed,
except for hardened old soldiers like you and me, Antoine."
"No, Mr. Scott, it is not."
"Then I suggest that we leave Mademoiselle Lannes and Suzanne here while
we look for shelter."
But Julie would not agree. They must all go out together. What was a
little snow? Should a Lannes mind it? She drew her great red cloak more
closely around her and led the way from the choir to the bronze doors,
the others following in silence.
John felt that Julie had shown much decision and firmness. When she had
declared that she would not remain in the church her tone and manner
were wonderfully like those of her brother Philip. She was altogether
worthy of the name of Lannes, and the fact appealed strongly to young
Scott, who liked strength and courage.
When they were outside they saw that the storm had increased. The snow
was driving so thickly that they could not see fifty yards ahead, and
their quest of a house for the night would be difficult. But the lofty
steeple of the church with its protecting cross still towered above them
and John felt, if their search was vain, that the cathedral would always
be there to shelter them. Doubtless the provident Picard also had
provisions in the motor.
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