Rafael Sabatini

“ Its whilom expression had been rather one of dismay; for, having believed me dead, he no doubt accounted his wager won, whereas seeing me alive had destroyed that pleasant conviction. But now it took on a look of relief and of something that suggested malicious cunning.
“That,” said Castelroux in my ear, “is the King's commissioner.”
Did I not know it? I never waited to answer him, but, striding across the room, I held out my hand—over the table—to Chatellerault.
“My dear Comte,” I cried, “you are most choicely met.” ”

“ He would expedite the comedy of my trial, and close it with the tragedy of my execution. My professions of a mistake of identity—if I wasted breath upon them—would be treated with disdain and disregarded utterly. God! What a position had I got myself into, and what a vein of comedy ran through it—grim, tragic comedy, if you will, yet comedy to all faith. The very woman whom I had wagered to wed had betrayed me into the hands of the very man with whom I laid my wager. ”

“ CHAPTER XI THE KING'S COMMISSIONER FOR that most amiable of Gascon cadets, Monsieur de Castelroux, I have naught but the highest praise. In his every dealing with me he revealed himself so very gallant, generous, and high-minded a gentleman that it was little short of a pleasure to be his prisoner. ”