North of the Loire there had been some excuse for his inaction under
insult; he had been in the man's country and power. But south of the
Loire, within forty leagues of Huguenot Niort, must he still suffer,
still be supine?
His rage was inflamed by a disappointment he presently underwent. Looking
back as they rode clear of the wooden houses of Ponts de Ce, he missed
Tavannes and several of his men; and he wondered if Count Hannibal had
remained on his own side of the river. It seemed possible; and in that
event La Tribe and he and Carlat might deal with Badelon and the four who
still escorted them. But when he looked back a minute later, Tavannes
was within sight, following the party with a stern face; and not Tavannes
only. Bigot, with two of the ten men who hitherto had been missing, was
with him.
It was clear, however, that they brought no good news, for they had
scarcely ridden up before Count Hannibal cried, "Faster! faster!" in his
harshest voice, and Bigot urged the horses to a quicker trot. Their
course lay almost parallel with the Loire in the direction of Beaupreau;
and Tignonville began to fear that Count Hannibal intended to recross the
river at Nantes, where the only bridge below Angers spanned the stream.
With this in view it was easy to comprehend his wish to distance his
pursuers before he recrossed.
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