but every man, ay, and woman too, is either a
friend to Mazarin or his enemy. What say you? Will you wear the green
scarf or not? Think it over. You are a free agent, and I shall
welcome you as a friend, or respect you as a foe. True, you are very
young, but you seem a sensible lad. Now make your choice."

"Providence has decided for me," I answered. "I shall be glad if I can
be of any service to your Eminence."

"Good! Serve me faithfully, and you shall not be able to accuse
Mazarin of being a niggardly paymaster. Belloc will return in a day or
two, and we will have a talk with him. But the night flies. Martin,
my trusty friend, I must depart: we will discuss those accounts at a
quieter season."

"At your pleasure," replied the astrologer, and then at a signal from
Mazarin, a grizzled veteran stepped out from behind the curtain.

"M. de Lalande's sword will be returned to him," said the Cardinal,
"and he will await me with the Guards."

"_Ma foi!_ you are a lucky youngster!" exclaimed my guide when we were
out of earshot; "Mazarin has quite taken to you. I have never known
any one jump into his favour so quickly."

The soldiers still stood at attention in the lower room, and the
officer on being informed of the Cardinal's orders returned my pistols
and helped me to buckle on my sword.

"A pleasanter task," he remarked, "than escorting you to the Bastille,
where I expected you would pass the night. Have you joined the
Cardinal's service?"

"More or less," I answered laughing. "I hardly know how things stand
till M. Belloc returns."

"Are you acquainted with him?"

"He is one of my father's chief friends, perhaps the only one. I
inquired for him the other day at the Palais Royal, but your men are
not too affable to a stranger. Perhaps they would have been less surly
but for my shabby mantle."

Before he had time to reply, Mazarin made his appearance, and, after
issuing some orders, requested me to follow him. The street was
deserted, the people were in bed, there was no sign of any troops, and
I could not help thinking how completely the Cardinal had placed
himself in my power. He, however, appeared to anticipate no danger,
but walked steadily, leaning on my arm.

"The night air is cold," he said presently, drawing his black mantle
closer round him--and after a pause, "Do you know your way? Ah, I had
forgotten. Your home is near Vancey?"

"_At_ Vancey, my grandsire would have answere