. 'My commission
is fulfilled already.'

'Take some wine; you are heated with your long ride,' said the Count,
filling out a large goblet, while he motioned to Gerald to be seated.

'Nay, sir; it is not of _me_ there is time to think now. Pray, let me
have your answer to my message, for Monsieur told me, if I either failed
to find you, or from any casualty you were unable to repair to St.
Cloud, that I should come back with all speed to apprise him, my not
returning being the sign that all went well.'

'All went well,' muttered Mirabeau to himself. 'How could it go worse?'

Gerald sat gazing in wonderment at the massive, stern features before
him, calling up all that he could remember of their first meeting,
and scarcely able, even yet to persuade himself that he had been the
companion of that great Count de Mirabeau whose fame filled all France.

'In the event of my compliance, you were then to accompany me to St.
Cloud?' said the Count, in a tone of inquiry.

'Yes, sir; so I understood my orders.'

'There is mention in history of a certain Duc de Guise----'

He stopped short, and walked to and fro for some time in silence; then,
turning abruptly around, he asked: 'How came it that you stood so high
in Monsieur's confidence that he selected you for this mission?'

'By mere accident,' said Gerald, and he recounted how the incident had
occurred.

'And your horse--what has become of him?' asked the Count.

'He is fastened to the ring of the large _porte cochere_--the third
house from this.'

Mirabeau leaned out of the window as if to satisfy himself that this
statement was true.

'Supposing, then, that I agree to your request, what means have you to
convey me to St. Cloud?--what preparations are made?'

'None, sir. There was no time for preparation. It was, as I have told
you, late last night when Monsieur gave me this order. It was in the
briefest of words.'

'"Tell Monsieur de Mirabeau that his Majesty would speak with him,"'
said the Count, suggesting to Gerald's memory the tenor of his message.

'No, sir. "Tell Monsieur de Mirabeau to hasten to St. Cloud, where I
will meet him."'

'How did you become a noble guard?' asked he quickly. 'They say abroad
that the difficulties to admission are great?'

'I owe my admission to the favour of Madame de Bauflremont, sir.'

'A great patron, none more so. She would have befriended me once,' added
he, with an insolent sneer, 'but that my ugliness displeased