fortunately 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 Conde'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'Arcy 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'Arcy, with a superior
air; "his own downfall is at hand. Alas, my poor friend, I pity you."

We were still laughing at him when he suddenly exclaimed, "Ah, here is
Lautrec. Tell me, is he not a show picture? I feel almost tempted to
change sides, if only to deck myself out so gorgeously."

CHAPTER VII.

The Cardinal takes an Evening Walk.

D'Arcy's acquaintance was one of the _petits maitres_, as Conde's
followers were called, and it was easy to see that he prided himself
immensely on his fine clothes. He was dressed in a coat of dark blue
cloth covered with fine lace; his mantle was scarlet, and his silk
stockings, ornamented with lace, were of the same colour. He wore a
black hat turned up _a la catalane_, and adorned by an enormous black
feather, and his gloves were of a soft, gray