ing that his
treachery was discovered, he flung himself at Mazarin's feet, crying,
"Pardon me, Monseigneur, and you shall be told everything, but I have
not the papers."

"Who has them?"

"Madame Coutance! She promised to obtain the signature of the King's
uncle."

"That woman mixes herself up in everything," exclaimed Mazarin,
irritably, "and does more harm by her folly than De Retz can manage by
his scheming. She must be kept quiet for a month or two. De Lalande,
ask M. Belloc to station a carriage, six troopers, and a spare horse at
the corner of the Rue Crillon, and to remain there till he receives
fresh orders."

I bowed, and leaving the room, hurried downstairs, where one of the men
undid the fastenings of the door.

"Do not replace the bar till my return," I said, "I shall be away a
short time only."

Belloc, who was watching from his hiding-place, perceived me
immediately, and crossed the street.

"What is it?" he asked anxiously. "Has anything gone wrong?"

"No," said I, and delivered Mazarin's message.

"Rue Crillon?" he exclaimed. "That is where Madame Coutance lives."

"She is mixed up in the plot which Mazarin has discovered. I am sorry
for her niece."

"Mazarin will do the maid no harm," exclaimed the old soldier. "I have
always found his bark worse than his bite. Are you sure that he is
quite safe yonder?"

"Everything appears as usual."

"Still, in case you are sent on another message, it will be as well
that the Cardinal has some protection," and he gave a private signal
which quickly brought two soldiers to our side.

"You are under the orders of M. de Lalande," he exclaimed, and, leaving
me to return to the house, hurried off.

"Affairs go well," said the Cardinal briskly, as I entered the room,
"and the credit is yours, M. de Lalande. But for your sharp eyes I
might have failed to get on the track of this conspiracy against the
King. There is one thing more for you to do. Take this note to Madame
Coutance in the Rue Crillon. It is a request by our dear Martin that
she will give up the papers relating to the plot. You will pass them
to M. Belloc with orders to bring them here at once."

"Suppose the lady refuses to surrender them, my Lord?"

"You will search her room, while this _lettre de cachet_ will secure
her a lodging in the Bastille. If, on the other hand, she has the good
sense to yield quietly, you will simply escort her to her chateau. The
carriage will