第13章

"IhaveheardyousaymuchthesameoftheKingofFrance,"I

saidderisively.

"Youtrustinhim?"heretorted,hiseyesgleaming."Youhavebeenupthere,andseenhiscrowdedchamber,andcountedhisforty-fivegentlemenandhisgrey-coatedSwiss?Itellyouthesplendouryousawwasadream,andwillvanishasadream.Theman"sstrengthandhisgloryshallgofromhim,andthatsoon.

Haveyounoeyestoseethatheisbesidethequestion?TherearebuttwopowersinFrance——theHolyUnion,whichstillprevails,andtheaccursedHuguenot;andbetweenthemisthebattle."

"Nowyouaretellingmemore,"Isaid.

Hegrewsoberinamoment,lookingatmewithaviciousangerhardtodescribe.

"Tuttut,"hesaid,showinghisyellowteeth,"thedeadtellnotales.AndforHenryofValois,hesolovesamonkthatyoumightbetteraccusehismistress.Butforyou,Ihaveonlytocry"Ho!aHuguenotandaspy!"andthoughhelovedyoumorethanhelovedQuelusorMaugiron,hedarenotstretchoutafingertosaveyou!"

Iknewthathespokethetruth,andwithdifficultymaintainedtheairofindifferencewithwhichIhadenteredontheinterview.

"ButwhatifIleaveBlois?"Iventured,merelytoseewhathewouldsay.

Helaughed."Youcannot,"heanswered."Thenetisroundyou,M.deMarsac,andtherearethoseateverygatewhoknowyouandhavetheirinstructions.Icandestroyyou,butIwouldfainhaveyourinformation,andforthatIwillpayyoufivehundredcrownsandletyougo."

"TofallintothehandsoftheKingofNavarre?"

"Hewilldisownyou,inanycase,"heansweredeagerly."Hehadthatinhismind,myfriend,whenheselectedanagentsoobscure.Hewilldisownyou.Ah,monDieu!hadIbeenanhourquickerIhadcaughtRosny——Rosnyhimself!"

"Thereisonethinglackingstill,"Ireplied."HowamItobesurethat,whenIhavetoldyouwhatIknow,youwillpaymethemoneyorletmego?"

"Iwillsweartoit!"heansweredearnestly,deceivedintothinkingIwasabouttosurrender."Iwillgiveyoumyoath,M.

deMarsac!"

"Iwouldassoonhaveyourshoe-lace!"Iexclaimed,theindignationIcouldnotentirelyrepressfindingventinthatphrase."AChurchman"svowisworthacandle——oracandleandahalf,isit?"Icontinuedironically."Imusthavesomesecurityagreatdealmoresubstantialthanthat,father."

"What?"heasked,lookingatmegloomily.

Seeinganopening,Icudgelledmybrainstothinkofanyconditionwhich,beingfulfilled,mightturnthetableonhimandplacehiminmypower.Buthispositionwassostrong,ormywitssoweak,thatnothingoccurredtomeatthetime,andIsatlookingat,him,mymindgraduallypassingfromthepossibilityofescapetotheactualdangerinwhichIstood,andwhichencompassedalsoSimonFleix,and,inadegree,doubtless,M.deRambouillet.Infourorfivedays,too,MademoiselledelaVirewouldarrive.IwonderedifIcouldsendanywarningtoher;andthen,again,IdoubtedthewisdomofinterferingwithM.deRosny"splans,themoreasMaignan,whohadgonetofetchmademoiselle,wasofakindtodisregardanyorderssavehismaster"s.

"Well!"saidthemonk,impatientlyrecallingmetomyself,"whatsecuritydoyouwant?"

"Iamnotquitesureatthismoment,"Imadeanswerslowly."I

aminadifficultposition.Imusthavesometimetoconsider."

"Andtoridyourselfofme,ifitbepossible,"hesaidwithirony."Iquiteunderstand.ButIwarnyouthatyouarewatched;andthatwhereveryougoandwhateveryoudo,eyeswhicharemineareuponyou."

"I,too,understand,"Isaidcoolly.

Hestoodawhileuncertain,regardingmewithmingleddoubtandmalevolence,torturedontheonehandbyfearoflosingtheprizeifhegranteddelay,ontheotheroffailingasutterlyifheexertedhispoweranddidnotsucceedinsubduingmyresolution.

Iwatchedhim,too,andgauginghiseagernessandthevalueofthestakeforwhichhewasstrivingbythestrengthofhisemotions,drewsmallcomfortfromthesight.Morethanonceithadoccurredtome,andnowitoccurredtomeagain,toextricatemyselfbyablow.Butanaturalreluctancetostrikeanunarmedman,howevervileandknavish,andthebeliefthathehadnottrustedhimselfinmypowerwithouttakingthefullestprecautions,withheldme.Whenhegrudgingly,andwithmanydarkthreats,proposedtowaitthreedays——andnotanhourmore——formyanswer,Iaccepted;forIsawnootheralternativeopen.Andontheseterms,butnotwithoutsomeshortdiscussion,weparted,andIheardhisstealthyfootstepgosneakingdownthestairs.

CHAPTERXIX.

MENCALLITCHANCE.

IfIweretellingmorethanthetruth,orhaditinmymindtoembellishmyadventures,Icould,doubtless,bytheexerciseofalittleingenuitymakeitappearthatIowedmyescapefromFatherAntoine"smeshestomyowncraft;andtell,infine,asprettyastoryofplotsandcounterplotsasM.deBrantomehaseverwoven.

Havingnodesire,however,tomagnifymyselfand,atthistimeofday,scarcelyanyreason,Iamfaintoconfessthatthereversewasthecase;andthatwhilenomaneverdidlesstofreehimselfthanIdid,myadversaryretainedhisgrasptotheend,andhadsurely,butforastrangeinterposition,effectedmyruin.Howreliefcame,andfromwhatquarter,Imightdefythemostingeniousperson,afterreadingmymemoirstothispoint,tosay;

andthisnotsomuchbyreasonofanysubtledevice,asbecausethehandofProvidencewasforoncedirectlymanifest.

ThethreedaysofgracewhichthepriesthadgrantedIpassedinanxiousbutfutilesearchforsomemeansofescape,everyplanI

conceiveddyingstillborn,andnottheleastofmymiserieslyinginthefactthatIcoulddiscernnobettercoursethanstilltositandthink,andseemeddoomedtoperpetualinaction.M.deRambouilletbeingastrictCatholic,thoughinallotherrespectsapatrioticman,Iknewbetterthantohaverecoursetohim;andthepriest"sinfluenceoverM.d"AgenIhadmyselfwitnessed.

ForsimilarreasonsIrejectedtheideaofapplyingtotheking;

andthisexhaustingthelistofthoseonwhomIhadanyclaim,I

foundmyselfthrownonmyownresources,whichseemedlimited——mywitsfailingmeatthispinch——tomyswordandSimonFleix.

AssuredthatImustbreakoutofBloisifIwouldsavenotmyselfonly,butothersmorepreciousbecauseentrustedtomycharge,I

thoughtitnodisgracetoappealtoSimon;describinginalivelyfashionthedangerwhichthreatenedus,andincitingtheladbyeveryargumentwhichIthoughtlikelytohaveweightwithhimtodevisesomewayofescape.

Nowisthetime,myfriend,"Isaid,"toshowyourwits,andprovethatM.deRosny,whosaidyouhadacunningabovetheordinary,wasright.Ifyourbraincaneversaveyourhead,nowisthetime!ForItellyouplainly,ifyoucannotfindsomewaytooutmanoeuvrethisvillainbeforeto-morrow,Iamspent.Youcanjudgeforyourselfwhatchanceyouwillhaveofgoingfree."

Ipausedatthat,waitingforhimtomakesomesuggestion.Tomychagrinheremainedsilent,leaninghisheadonhishand,andstudyingthetablewithhiseyesinasullenfashion;sothatI

begantoregretthecondescensionIhadevincedinlettinghimbeseated,andfounditnecessarytoremindhimthathehadtakenservicewithme,andmustdomybidding.

"Well,"hesaidmorosely,andwithoutlookingup,"Iamreadytodoit.ButIdonotlikepriests,andthisoneleastofall.I

knowhim,andIwillnotmeddlewithhim."

"Youwillnotmeddlewithhim?"Icried,almostbesidemyselfwithdismay.

"No,Iwon"t,"hereplied,retaininghislistlessattitude."I

knowhim,andIamafraidofhim.Iamnomatchforhim."

"ThenM.deRosnywaswrong,washe?"Isaid,givingwaytomyanger.

"Ifitpleaseyou,"heansweredpertly.

Thiswastoomuchforme.Myriding-switchlayhandy,andI

snatcheditup.BeforeheknewwhatIwouldbeat,Ifelluponhim,andgavehimsuchasoundwholesomedrubbingasspeedilybroughthimtohissenses.Whenhecriedformercy——whichhedidnotforagoodspace,beingstillpossessedbythepeevishdevilwhichhadriddenhimeversincehisdeparturefromRosny——IputittohimagainwhetherM.deRosnywasnotright.Whenheatlastadmittedthis,butnottillthen,Ithrewthewhipawayandlethimgo,butdidnotceasetoreproachhimashedeserved.

"Didyouthink,"Isaid,"thatIwasgoingtoberuinedbecauseyouwouldnotuseyourlazybrains?ThatIwasgoingtositstill,andletyousulk,whilemademoisellewalkedblindfoldintothetoils?Notatall,myfriend!"

"Mademoiselle!"heexclaimed,lookingatmewitha,suddenchangeofcountenance,endceasingtorubhimselfandscowl,ashehadbeendoing."Sheisnothere,andisinnodanger."

"Shewillbehereto-morrow,orthenextday,"Isaid.

Youdidnottellmethat!"hereplied,hiseyesglittering.

"DoesFatherAntoineknowit?"

"Hewillknowitthemomentsheentersthetown,"Ianswered.

Notingthechangewhichtheintroductionofmademoiselle"snameintotheaffairhadwroughtinhim,Ifeltsomethinglikehumiliation.ButatthemomentIhadnochoice;itwasmybusinesstousesuchinstrumentsascametomyhand,andnot,mademoiselle"ssafetybeingatstake,topickandchoosetoonicely.Inafewminutesourpositionswerereversed.TheladhadgrownashotasIcold,askeenlyexcitedasIcritical.

Whenhepresentlycametoastandinfrontofme,Isawastrangelikenessbetweenhisfaceandthepriest"s;norwasIastonishedwhenhepresentlymadejustsuchaproposalasIshouldhaveexpectedfromFatherAntoinehimself.

"Thereisonlyonethingforit,"hemuttered,tremblingallover."Hemustbegotridof!"

"Finetalking!"Isaid,contemptuously."Ifhewereasoldierhemightbebroughttoit.Butheisapriest,myfriend,anddoesnotfight."

"Fight?Whowantshimtofight?"theladanswered,hisfacedark,hishandsmovingrestlessly."Itistheeasierdone.A

blowintheback,andhewilltroubleusnomore."

"Whoistostrikeit?"Iaskeddrily.

Simontrembledandhesitated;butpresently,heavingadeepsigh,hesaid,"Iwill."

"Itmightnotbedifficult,"Imuttered,thinkingitover.

"Itwouldbeeasy,"heansweredunderhisbreath.Hiseyesshone,hislipswerewhite,andhislongdarkhairhungwetoverhisforehead.

Ireflected,andthelongerIdidsothemorefeasibleseemedthesuggestion.Asingleword,andImightsweepfrommypaththemanwhoseexistencethreatenedmine;whowouldnotmeetmefairly,but,workingagainstmedarklyandtreacherously,deservednobettertreatmentatmyhandsthanthatwhichadetectedspyreceives.Hehadwrongedmymother;hewouldfaindestroymyfriends!

And,doubtless,Ishallbeblamedbysomeandridiculedbymoreforindulginginscruplesatsuchatime.ButIhaveallmylifelongbeenprejudicedagainstthatformofunderhandviolencewhichIhaveheardoldmencontendcameintofashioninourcountryinmoderntimes,andwhichcertainlyseemstobealienfromtheFrenchcharacter.Withoutjudgingotherstooharshly,orsayingthattheponiardisneverexcusable——forthenmightsomewrongsdonetowomenandthehelplessgowithoutremedy——I

havesetmyfaceagainstitsuseasunworthyofasoldier.Atthetime,moreover,ofwhichIamnowwritingtheextenttowhichourenemieshadlatelyresortedtoittendedtofixthisfeelingwithpeculiarfirmnessinmymind;and,butfortheverydesperatedilemmainwhichIstoodatthemoment——andnotI

alone——IdonotthinkthatIshouldhaveentertainedSimon"sproposalforaminute.

Asitwas,Ipresentlyansweredhiminawaywhichlefthiminnodoubtofmysentiments."Simon,myfriend,"Isaid——andI

rememberIwasalittlemoved——"youhavesomethingstilltolearn,bothasasoldierandaHuguenot.Neithertheonenortheotherstrikesattheback."

"Butifhewillnotfight?"theladretortedrebelliously.

"Whatthen?"

ItwassoclearthatouradversarygainedanunfairadvantageinthiswaythatIcouldnotanswerthequestion.Iletitpass,therefore,andmerelyrepeatingmyformerinjunction,badeSimonthinkoutanotherway.

Hepromisedreluctantlytodoso,and,afterspendingsomemomentsinthought,wentouttolearnwhetherthehousewasbeingwatched.

Whenhereturned,hiscountenanceworesonewanexpressionthatIsawatoncethatsomethinghadhappened.Hedidnotmeetmyeye,however,anddidnotexplain,butmadeasifhewouldgooutagain,withsomethingofconfusioninhismanner.Beforefinallydisappearing,however,heseemedtochangehismindoncemore;

for,marchinguptomewhereIstoodeyeinghimwiththeutmostastonishment,hestoppedbeforeme,andsuddenlydrawingouthishand,thrustsomethingintomine.

"Whatisit,man?"Isaidmechanically.

"Look!"heansweredrudely,breakingsilenceforthefirsttime.

"Youshouldknow.Whyaskme?WhathaveItodowithit?"

Ilookedthen,andsawthathehadgivenmeaknotofvelvetpreciselysimilarisshape,size,andmaterialtothatwell-

rememberedonewhichhadaidedmesoopportunelyinmysearchformademoiselle.Thisdifferedfromthatalittleincolour,butinnothingelse,thefashionofthebowbeingthesame,andonelappethearingtheinitials"C.d.l.V.,"whiletheotherhadthewords,"Amoi."Igazedatitinwonder."But,Simon,"I

said,"whatdoesitmean?Wheredidyougetit?"

"WhereshouldIgetit?"heansweredjealously.Then,seemingtorecollecthimself,hechangedhistone."Awomangaveittomeinthestreet,"hesaid.

Iaskedhimwhatwoman.

"HowshouldIknow?"heanswered,hiseyesgleamingwithanger.

"Itwasawomaninamask."

"WasitFanchette?"Isaidsternly.

"Itmighthavebeen.Idonotknow,"heresponded.

Iconcludedatfirstthatmademoiselleandherescorthadarrivedintheoutskirtsofthecity,andthatMaignanhadjustifiedhisreputationfordiscretionbysendingintolearnfrommewhetherthewaywasclearbeforeheentered.InthisnotionIwaspartlyconfirmedandpartlyshakenbytheaccompanyingmessage;whichSimon,fromwhomeveryscrapofinformationhadtobedraggedasbloodfromastone,presentlydelivered.

"Youaretomeetthesenderhalfanhouraftersunsetto-morrowevening,"hesaid,"ontheParvisatthenorth-eastcornerofthecathedral."

"To-morrowevening?"

"Yes,whenelse?"theladansweredungraciously."Isaidto-

morrowevening."

Ithoughtthisstrange.IcouldunderstandwhyMaignanshouldprefertokeephischargeoutsidethewallsuntilheheardfromme,butnotwhyheshouldpostponeameetingsolong.Themessage,too,seemedunnecessarilymeagre,andIbegantothinkSimonwasstillwithholdingsomething.

"Wasthatall?"Iaskedhim.

"Yes,all,"heanswered,"except——"

"Exceptwhat?"Isaidsternly.

"ExceptthatthewomanshowedmethegoldtokenMademoiselledelaVireusedtocarry,"heansweredreluctantly,"andsaid,ifyouwantedfurtherassurancethatwouldsatisfyyou."

"Didyouseethecoin?"Icriedeagerly.

"Tobesure,"heanswered.

"Then,mondieu!"Iretorted,"eitheryouaredeceivingme,orthewomanyousawdeceivedyou.Formademoisellehasnotgotthetoken!Ihaveithere,inmypossession!Now,doyoustillsayyonsawit,man?"

"Isawonelikeit,"heanswered,trembling,hisfacedamp.

"ThatIwillswear.AndthewomantoldmewhatIhavetoldyou.

Andnomore."

"Thenitisclear,"Ianswered,"thatmademoisellehasnothingtodowiththis,andisdoubtlessmanyaleagueaway.ThisisoneofM.deBruhl"stricks.Fresnoygavehimthetokenhestolefromme.AndItoldhimthestoryofthevelvetknotmyself.

Thisisatrap;andhadIfallenintoit,andgonetotheParvisto-morrowevening,Ihadneverkeptanotherassignation,mylad."

Simonlookedthoughtful.Presentlyhesaid,withacrestfallenair,"Youweretogoalone.Thewomansaidthat."

ThoughIknewwellwhyhehadsuppressedthisitem,Iforboretoblamehim."Whatwasthewomanlike?"Isaid.

"ShehadverymuchofFranchette"sfigure,"heanswered.Hecouldnotgobeyondthat.Blindedbytheideathatthewomanwasmademoiselle"sattendant,andnooneelse,hehadtakenlittleheedofher,andcouldnotevensayforcertainthatshewasnotamaninwoman"sclothes.

Ithoughtthematteroveranddiscusseditwithhim;andwasheartilymindedtopunishM.deBruhl,ifIcoulddiscoverawayofturninghistreacherousplotagainsthimself.Butthelackofanypreciseknowledgeofhisplanspreventedmestirringinthematter;themoreasIfeltnocertaintythatIshouldbemasterofmyactionswhenthetimecame.

StrangetosaythediscoveryofthismovementonthepartofBruhl,whohadsedulouslykepthimselfinthebackgroundsincethesceneintheking"spresence,farfromincreasingmyanxieties,hadtheeffectofadministeringafilliptomyspirits;whichthecoldandunyieldingpressureoftheJacobinhadreducedtoalowpoint.HerewassomethingIcouldunderstand,resist,andguardagainst.ThefeelingthatIhadoncemoretodowithamanoflikeaimsandpassionswithmyselfquicklyrestoredmetotheuseofmyfaculties;asIhaveheardthataswordsmanopposedtothepowersofevilregainshisvigouronfindinghimselfengagedwithamortalfoe.ThoughIknewthatthehoursofgracewerefastrunningtoaclose,andthatonthemorrowthepriestwouldcallforananswer,Iexperiencedthateveningan,unreasonablelightnessandcheerfulness.Iretiredtorestwithconfidence,andsleptiscomfort,supportedinpart,perhaps,bytheassurancethatinthatroomwheremymotherdiedherpersecutorcouldhavenopowertoharmme.

UponSimonFleix,ontheotherhand,thediscoverythatBruhlwasmoving,andthatconsequentlyperilthreatenedusfromanewquarter,hadadifferenteffect.Hefellintoastateofextremeexcitement,andspenttheeveningandagreatpartofthenightinwalkingrestlesslyupanddowntheroom,wrestlingwiththefearsandanxietieswhichbesetus,andnowtalkingfasttohimself,nowbitinghisnailsinanagonyofimpatience.InvainIadjuredhimnottomeettroubleshalfway;or,pointingtothepalletwhichheoccupiedatthefootofmycouch,badehim,ifhecouldnotdeviseawayofescape,atleasttoletthematterrestuntilmorning.Hehadnopowertoobey,but,torturedbythevividanticipationswhichitwashisnaturetoentertain,hecontinuedtorambletoandfroinafeverofthenerves,andhadnosoonerlaindownthanbewasupagain.Remembering,however,howwellhehadbornehimselfonthenightofmademoiselle"sescapefromBlois,Irefrainedfromcallinghimacoward;andcontentedmyselfinsteadwiththereflectionthatnothingsitsworseonafighting-manthantoomuchknowledge——except,perhaps,alivelyimagination.

IthoughtitpossiblethatmademoisellemightarrivenextdaybeforeFatherAntoinecalledtoreceivehisanswer.InthiseventIhopedtohavethesupportofMaignan"sexperience.Butthepartydidnotarrive.Ihadtorelyonmyselfandmyownresources,and,thisbeingso,determinedtorefusethepriest"soffer,butinallotherthingstobeguidedbycircumstances.

Aboutnoonhecame,attended,aswashispractice,bytwofriends,whomheleftoutside.Helookedpalerandmoreshadowythanbefore,Ithought,hishandsthinner,andhischeeksmoretransparent.Icoulddrawnogoodaugury,however,fromthese,signsoffrailty,forthebrightnessofhiseyesandtheunusualelationofhismannertoldplainlyofaspiritassuredofthemastery.Heenteredtheroomwithanairofconfidence,andaddressedmeinatoneofpatronagewhichleftmeinnodoubtofhisintentions;thefranknesswithwhichhenowlaidbarehisplansgoingfartoprovethatalreadyheconsideredmenobetterthanhistool.

Ididnotatonceundeceivehim,butallowedhimtoproceed,andeventobringoutthefivehundredcrownswhichhehadpromisedme,andthesightofwhichhedoubtlesssupposedwouldclenchthematter.

Seeingthishebecamestilllessreticent,andspokesolargelythatIpresentlyfeltmyselfimpelledtoaskhimifhewouldansweraquestion.

"Thatisasmaybe,M.deMarsac,"heansweredlightly."Youmayaskit."

"Youhintatgreatschemeswhichyouhaveinhand,father,"I

said."YouspeakofFranceandSpainandNavarre,andkingsandLeaguesandcardinals!Youtalkofsecretstrings,andwouldhavemebelievethatifIcomplywithyourwishesIshallfindyouaspowerfulapatronasM.deRosny.But——onemoment,ifyouplease,"Icontinuedhastily,seeingthathewasabouttointerruptmewithsucheagerassurancesasIhadalreadyheard;

"tellmethis.Withsomanyironsinthefire,whydidyouinterferewithoneoldgentlewoman——forthesakeofafewcrowns?"

"Iwilltellyoueventhat,"heanswered,hisfaceflushingatmytone."Haveyoueverheardofanelephant?Yes.Well,ithasatrunk,youknow,withwhichitcaneitherdraganoakfromtheearthorliftagroatfromtheground.Itissowithme.Butagainyouask,"hecontinuedwithanairygrimace,"whyIwantedafewcrowns.EnoughthatIdid.Therearegoingtobetwothingsintheworld,andtwoonly,M.deMarsac:brainsandmoney.TheformerIhave,andhad:thelatterIneeded——andtook."

"Moneyandbrains?"Isaid,lookingathimthoughtfully.

"Yes,"heanswered,hiseyessparkling,histhinnostrilsbeginningtodilate."Givemethesetwo,andIwillruleFrance!"

"YouwillruleFrance?"Iexclaimed,amazedbeyondmeasurebyhisaudacity."You,man?"

"Yes,I,"heanswered,withabominablecoolness."I,priest,monk,Churchman,clerk.Youlooksurprised,butmarkyou,sir,thereisachangegoingon.Ourtimeiscoming,andyoursisgoing.WhathampersourlordthekingandshutshimupinBlois,whilerebellionsstalkthroughFrance?Lackofmen?No;butlackofmoney.Whocangetthemoneyforhim——youthesoldier,orItheclerk?Athousandtimes,I!Therefore,mytimeiscoming,andbeforeyoudieyouwillseeapriestruleFrance."

"Godforbiditshouldbeyou,"Iansweredscornfully.

"Asyouplease,"heanswered,shrugginghisshoulders,andassuminginabreathamaskofhumilitywhichsatasillonhismonstrousconceitasevernun"sveilonatrooper."YetitmayevenbeI;bythefavouroftheHolyCatholicChurch,whosehumbleministerIam."

Isprangupwithagreatoathatthat,havingnostomachformoreofthestrangetransformations,inwhichthismandelighted,andwhereofthelasthadevertheairofbeingthemosthateful.

"Youvillain!"Icried,twistingmymoustaches,ahabitIhavewhenenraged."Andsoyouwouldmakemeastepping-stonetoyourgreatness.Youwouldbribeme——asoldierandagentleman.Go,beforeIdoyouamischief.ThatisallIhavetosaytoyou.

Go!Youhaveyouranswer.Iwilltellyounothing——notajotoratittle.Begonefrommyroom!"

Hefellbackastepinhissurprise,andstoodagainstthetablebitinghisnailsandscowlingatme,fearandchagrincontendingwithhalfadozendevilsforthepossessionofhisface."Soyouhavebeendeceivingme,"hesaidslowly,andatlast.

"Ihaveletyoudeceiveyourself"Ianswered,lookingathimwithscorn,butwithlittleofthefearwithwhichhehadforawhileinspiredme."Begone,anddoyourworst."

"Youknowwhatyouaredoing,"hesaid."Ihavethatwillhangyou,M.deMarsac——orworse."

"Go!"Icried.

"Youhavethoughtofyourfriends,"hecontinuedmockingly.

"Go!"Isaid.

"OfMademoiselledelaVire,ifbyanychanceshefallintomyhands?Itwillnotbehangingforher.YourememberthetwoFoucauds?"——andhelaughed.

Thevilethreat,whichIknewhehadusedtomymother,soworkeduponmethatIstrodeforwardunabletocontrolmyselflonger.

InanothermomentIhadcertainlytakenhimbythethroatandsqueezedthelifeoutofhismiserablecarcase,hadnotProvidenceinitsgoodnessintervenedtosaveme.Thedoor,onwhichhehadalreadylaidhishandinterror,openedsuddenly.

ItadmittedSimon,who,closingit;behindhim,stoodlookingfromonetotheotherofusinnervousdoubt;dividedbetweenthatrespectforthepriestwhichatrainingattheSorbonnehadinstilledintohim,andtheragewhichdespairarousesintheweakest.

Hispresence,whileitcheckedmeinmypurpose,seemedtogiveFatherAntoinecourage,fortheprieststoodhisground,andeventurnedtomeasecondtime,hisfacedarkwithspiteanddisappointment."Good,"hesaidhoarsely."Destroyyourselfifyouwill!Iadviseyoutobaryourdoor,forinanhourtheguardswillbeheretofetchyoutothequestion."

Simoncriedoutatthethreat,sothatIturnedandlookedatthelad.Hiskneeswereshaking,hishairstoodonend.

Thepriestsawhisterrorandhisownopportunity."Ay,inanhour,"hecontinuedslowly,lookingathimwithcrueleyes."Inanhour,lad!Youmustbefondofpaintocourtit,andoutofhumourwithlifetothrowitaway.Orstay,"hecontinuedabruptly,afterconsideringSimon"snarrowlyforamoment,anddoubtlessdeducingfromitalasthope,"Iwillbemerciful.I

willgiveyouonemorechance."

"Andyourself?"Isaidwithasneer.

"Asyouplease,"heanswered,decliningtobedivertedfromthetremblinglad,whomhisgazeseemedtofascinate."Iwillgiveyouuntilhalfanhouraftersunsetthiseveningtoreconsiderthematter.Ifyoumakeupyourmindstoacceptmyterms,meetmethen.Ileaveto-nightforParis,andIwillgiveyouuntilthelastmoment.But,"hecontinuedgrimly,"ifyoudonotmeetme,or,meetingme,remainobstinate——Goddosotome,andmorealso,ifyouseethesunrisethrice."

Someimpulse,Iknownotwhat,seeingthatIhadnothoughtofacceptinghistermsormeetinghim,ledmetoaskbriefly,"Where?"

"OntheParvisoftheCathedral,"heansweredafteramoment"scalculation."Atthenorth-eastcorner,halfanhouraftersunset.Itisaquietspot."

Simonutteredastifledexclamation.Andthenforamomenttherewassilenceintheroom,whiletheladbreathedhardandirregularly,andIstoodrootedtothespot,lookingsolongandsostrangelyatthepriestthatFatherAntoinelaidhishandagainonthedoorandglanceduneasilybehindhim.Norwashecontentuntilhehadhiton,ashefancied,thecauseofmystrangeregard.

"Ha!"hesaid,histhinlipcurlinginconceitathisastuteness,"Iunderstandyouthinktokillmeto-night?Letmetellyou,thishouseiswatched.Ifyouleaveheretomeetmewithanycompanion——unlessitbeM.d"Agen,whomIcantrust,I

shallbewarned,andbegonebeforeyoureachtherendezvous.

Andgone,mindyou,"headded,withagrimsmile,"tosignyourdeath-warrant."

Hewentoutwiththat,closingthedoorbehindhim;andweheardhisstepgosoftlydownthestaircase.IgazedatSimon,andheatme,withalltheastonishmentandawewhichitwasnaturalweshouldfeelinpresenceofsoremarkableacoincidence.

Forbyamarvelthepriesthadnamedthesamespotandthesametimeasthesenderofthevelvetknot!

"Hewillgo,"Simonsaid,hisfaceflushedandhisvoicetrembling,"andtheywillgo."

"Andinthedarktheywillnotknowhim,"Imuttered."Heisaboutmyheight.Theywilltakehimforme!"

"Andkillhim!"Simoncriedhysterically."Theywillkillhim!

Hegoestohisdeath,monsieur.ItisthefingerofGod."

CHAPTERXX.

THEKING"SFACE.

ItseemedsonecessarytobringhomethecrimetoBruhlshouldthepriestreallyperishinthetraplaidforme,thatIcameneartofallingintooneofthosemistakestowhichmenofactionareprone.FormyfirstimpulsewastofollowthepriesttotheParvis,closelyenough,ifpossible,todetecttheassassinsintheact,andwithsufficientforce,ifIcouldmusterit,toarrestthem.ThecreditofdissuadingmefromthiscourselieswithSimon,whopointedoutitsdangersinsoconvincingamannerthatIwasbroughtwithlittledifficultytorelinquishit.

Instead,actingonhisadvice,IsenthimtoM.d"Agen"slodging,tobegthatyounggentlemantocalluponmebeforeevening.

Aftersearchingthelodgingandotherplacesinvain,SimonfoundM.d"Ageninthetennis-courtattheCastle,and,inventingacraftyexcuse,broughthimtomylodgingafullhourbeforethetime.