My Sword's My Fortune. Herbert Hayens

partaking of a hearty breakfast, I lay down upon a couch, and, being thoroughly tired, fell fast asleep, not waking again till towards the middle of the afternoon, when Bernouin came to say the Cardinal awaited me.

      Jumping up, I followed the secretary, not wishing to receive a further reproof from the minister. Pausing at the door, Bernouin gave a discreet tap, which was answered by Mazarin.

      "M. de Lalande," announced the secretary, and at a sign from the Cardinal withdrew.

      Mazarin was writing, but, laying down his pen, he motioned me to a seat opposite him.

      "You have breakfasted, have you not?" he asked.

      "Yes, my Lord, thank you," I replied.

      He smiled affably, and was plainly in good humour—the result perhaps of his morning's work. Suddenly this mood changed, the frown came back to his face, and he exclaimed sternly, "I had almost forgotten. Why were you so long on your errand this morning?"

      "That is what I wished to speak of, your Eminence, but I am confident you will agree that I acted rightly."

      "I dislike putting the cart before the horse," said he; "the verdict should follow the evidence. It will be better for you to relate the story first."

      Picking up his pen again, he sat twisting it between his fingers, but looking me straight in the face, and listening intently to every word. He did not once attempt to interrupt, but preserved his patience until the end.

      "Chut! my dear Martin," said he, when I had finished, just as if the astrologer were present; "we were mistaken. This young provincial has eyes in his head after all. M. de Lalande, not a word, not a syllable of this to any one. Should you babble, the Bastille is not so full but that it can accommodate another tenant. Now, let us go through the story again. As you rightly observe, it is most interesting, quite like a romance. These men were in the house; of that you are sure?"

      I bowed.

      "Very good. And our friend Martin denied having seen them?"

      "He declared I was his first visitor this morning."

      "You did not press the point?"

      "Not at all, my Lord. I considered it better to admit my mistake, and to allow the subject to drop."

      "In that you did well. You are really learning fast, and I shall find you of service yet. Now let us proceed. You saw the two men again, but they did not come out of Martin's house. Are you certain about that?"

      "I did not once remove my eyes from the door, and it was closed the whole time."

      "Then you cannot account for the reappearance of these visitors?"

      I shook my head.

      "If my explanation is correct, it throws a light on several queer things," said Mazarin smiling. "However, that part of the business can stand over, I am not in a hurry at present. Now as to these cloaked gentlemen! Did you recognise them?"

      "Only my cousin Henri."

      "Ah, he is a clever fellow, a trifle too clever perhaps. Now describe his companion to me again."

      "A little man, your Eminence, dark and ugly. An ill-made, awkward, bow-legged fellow, looking the more ungainly because of his handsome apparel."

      "The description is not a flattering one!" laughed the Cardinal. "This ugly little man of yours is no less a person than Jean Paul de Gondi, Abbé de Retz, Coadjutor of Paris, Archbishop of Corinth, a future Cardinal—so it is rumoured—and the man who is to fill Mazarin's office when that unworthy minister has lost his head."

      Dipping his pen in the ink, he wrote an order and handed it to me.

      "For M. Belloc," he said. "In a few hours we shall discover what your information is worth, but, whatever the result, you have done your part well."

      Rising from the chair, I bowed and left the room, rather puffed up by the Cardinal's praise; but disappointed at not having learned the nature of the secret which I had unearthed.

      Was it possible that Martin had been playing a double game? It appeared very much like it, and, according to all accounts, De Retz paid his servants in good money, while those who served the Cardinal were generally rewarded by empty promises.

      Finding Belloc, I handed him the paper, at which he glanced quickly, and exclaimed, "More work, my boy, and to be done at once. The Cardinal's orders are all marked 'Immediate,'" and he went off with a good-humoured laugh.

      As there was nothing more to detain me at the Palace I returned to my rooms in the Rue des Catonnes, and, having made myself ready, sat down by the casement to watch for Raoul. The street was very still and peaceful that evening, and, while waiting for my friend, my thoughts roamed over the incidents of the day. As to my own discovery, it did not engage my attention long. I had done my duty in warning Mazarin, and for the rest he must look to himself.

      One point, however, caused me a considerable amount of anxiety. The Cardinal had spoken of Madame Coutance, and in no pleasant way. I knew very little of the lady, but, as I have said, it vexed me that her niece's safety should be to some extent in the hands of such a hare-brained conspirator.

      "She will be doing an extra foolish thing some day," I said to myself, half asleep and half awake, "and the Cardinal will clap both her and Marie into the Bastille. I must warn Raoul; he may have some influence over her."

      "Over whom?" exclaimed a merry voice, and, opening my eyes, I beheld Raoul himself standing close to me.

      "A good thing for you that the truce still holds," cried he gaily, "or I could easily have deprived Mazarin of a supporter."

      He laughed again quite merrily, and I laughed too; the idea of Raoul raising a hand against me seemed so ridiculous.

      "Sit down a minute," I said, "while I explain. The affair is not a secret," and I repeated Mazarin't remarks to him.

      "You are right, Albert," he exclaimed gravely; "this is a serious matter, but unfortunately I can do nothing. Madame Coutance grows more reckless every day, and at present is using all her influence to assist De Retz. To-morrow perhaps she will join Condé's party, for any side opposed to Mazarin is good enough for her."

      "Does Marie side with her aunt?"

      "She cannot help herself, though she has no liking for intrigue. But come, let us take a turn in the city; it will blow the cobwebs out of our brains."

      We had reached the Pont Neuf when a gaily dressed gallant, calling to Raoul, caused us to stop.

      "Armand!" exclaimed my comrade in surprise. "I understood you had gone to the Louvre!"

      "Are you not ashamed to be caught plotting with a Mazarin?"

      "Ah! I forgot that you knew M. de Lalande!"

      "Oh, yes," said I, "this gentleman and I are warm friends. He shows me to my inn, comes to my rooms, and invites me to go with him on his parties of pleasure."

      Laughing lightheartedly, young D'Arçy took my arm.

      "You rascal!" he cried, "it is fortunate we are at peace, or I should have to run you through for the honour of the Fronde. You made us the laughing-stock of Paris."

      I inquired if he had released the prisoner at the inn, on which he gave us such a comical account of the dwarf's unhappy plight that we could not keep from laughing aloud.

      "Who was he?" asked Raoul.

      "Pillot the dwarf, the trusty henchman of De Retz."

      "That is awkward for you," said Raoul turning to me. "Pillot is a cunning rogue, and is now hand in glove with your cousin. Really, Albert, you must take care of yourself, you have raised up a host of enemies already."

      "And the Italian cannot save you!" remarked D'Arçy, with a superior air; "his own downfall is at hand. Alas, my poor friend, I pity you."

      We