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.