shall crush the Cardinal this time," exclaimed my
comrade, whose good spirits revived with my increasing strength. "He
will miss his trusty henchman, and there is really no one of importance
on his side."

"Then De Retz has not received his red hat?"

"No! Mazarin played him a fine trick over that, and set all Paris
laughing for weeks. The little abbe is desperately angry, and intends
taking ample vengeance."

"How Marie's aunt must wish she were back in the Rue Crillon!"

"She has vowed not to leave Aunay till you have recovered. The doctor
declares you owe your life to her and Marie, who nursed you during the
first fortnight. By the way, your doublet was spoiled; so I sent for
another; you shall put it on in the morning."

"To go downstairs?'

"If you can persuade the doctor to grant you permission. And now try
to sleep, or you will be ill again."

The doctor appeared rather reluctant next morning to give his consent,
but I begged so hard that at last he yielded, and Raoul helped me to
dress. Then, leaning on the arm of my comrade, and partly supported by
the medical man, I made my way to the drawing-room, where the ladies
gave me a hearty welcome. The disagreeable part I had played in
carrying out Mazarin's orders was forgotten; Madame Coutance could talk
only about the fight, and her niece about my wounds.

"Between you all," I said, "you have saved my life."

"Next to God you have the doctor and Raoul to thank," remarked Marie.

"Raoul certainly," exclaimed her aunt laughing. "But for his sword-cut
in the first place we could not have nursed you at all."

"It was, indeed, very kind of you," I replied, ignoring the first part
of her speech, "especially as I am in the pay of the hated Mazarin."

"That is nothing, absolutely nothing. We are winning, and can afford
to be generous. The Cardinal stands on the edge of a mine which will
shortly explode. De Retz and your cousin Henri have made things
certain this time; there will be no more mistakes."

There was something in her speech and manner which made me wonder why
she was so bitter against the Cardinal. My recent adventures had
taught me valuable lessons, and I knew that many of those who talked so
loudly of liberty and justice had their own private schemes to advance
at the expense of the public welfare; and I was half-inclined to think
that Marie's aunt was a Frondeuse of this description. However, she
was very kind to me, and I still l