know at least who
their leader was."

"Pardon me," I said quietly, "but I did not undertake to play the spy.
What I learned was by accident."

"You will not tell me?" and he drummed on the table.

"I cannot: it would be dishonourable."

"Oh," said he with a sneer, "honour is not much esteemed in these days!"

"My father has always taught me to look on it as the most important
thing in the world."

"A clear proof that he is a stranger to Paris. However, I will not
press you. It will ill-suit my purpose to imprison D'Arcy--he is too
useful as a conspirator," he added with a chuckle.

I started in surprise at the mention of D'Arcy's name, and the Cardinal
smiled.

"At present," he said kindly, "your sword will be of more service to me
than your brains. Evidently you are not at home with our Parisian
ways. Come, let me give you a lesson on the question and answer
principle. How came I to be on my guard? My spies, as it happened,
were ignorant of the conspiracy."

"Then one of the plotters betrayed his comrades."

"Precisely. Price--a thousand crowns. Next, how did De Retz discover
that the plot was known?"

"That is more difficult to answer. I thought at first he himself was
the traitor."

"A shrewd guess. Why did you alter your opinion?"

"Because De Retz cannot be in need of a thousand crowns."

"Quite true. Well, I will tell you the story; it will show you the
manner of men with whom I have to deal. Two thousand crowns are better
than one; so my rogue having first sold the Abbe's secret to me,
obtained another by warning him that the conspiracy was discovered."

"But, in that case, why did he let his friends proceed with the scheme?"

Mazarin laughed at my question, saying, "That opens up another matter.
All these people hate me, but they don't love each other. For
instance, it would have delighted De Retz to learn that young D'Arcy
was safe under lock and key in the Bastille."

"Then he will be disappointed."

Again the Cardinal laughed.

"That," he said, "was my rogue's masterpiece. Having pocketed his two
thousand crowns, he sold us in the end by raising the alarm before my
troops were ready. In that way he will stand well with his party,
while making a clear gain all round. But, now, let us talk of
yourself. I understand you have come to Paris to seek your fortune."

I bowed.

"That means I must either have you on my side or against me. There are
several parties in Paris,