overeign
duke. He was more than a little carried off his feet by the marvel of
the situation. He could think of nothing quite clearly; everything was
confused and shifting in his mind.

The first words of the Duke were merely an informal greeting to his
council and the high officers present. He was about to speak further
when some one drew his attention to Detricand's presence. An order was
given to challenge the stranger, but Detricand, without waiting for the
approach of the officer, advanced towards the table, and, addressing the
Duke, said:

"The Duc de Bercy will not forbid the presence of his cousin, Detricand
de Tournay, at this impressive ceremony?"

The Duke, dumfounded, though he preserved an outward calm, could not
answer for an instant. Then with a triumphant, vindictive smile which
puckered his yellow cheeks like a wild apple, he said:

"The Comte de Tournay is welcome to behold an end of the ambitions of
the Vaufontaines." He looked towards Philip with an exulting
pride. "Monsieur le Comte is quite right," he added, turning to his
council--"he may always claim the privileges of a relative of the
Bercys; but the hospitality goes not beyond my house and my presence,
and monsieur le comte will understand my meaning."

At that moment Detricand caught the eye of Damour the Intendant, and he
understood perfectly. This man, the innkeeper had told him, was known to
be a Revolutionary, and he felt he was in imminent danger.

He came nearer, however, bowing to all present, and, making no reply to
the Duke save a simple, "I thank your Highness," took a place near the
council-table.

The short ceremony of signing the deeds immediately followed. A few
formal questions were asked of Philip, to which he briefly replied, and
afterwards he made the oath of allegiance to the Duke, with his hand
upon the ancient sword of the d'Avranches. These preliminaries ended,
the Duke was just stooping to put his pen to the paper for signature,
when the Intendant, as much to annoy Philip as still to stay the
proceedings against the coming of Fouche's men, said:

"It would appear that one question has been omitted in the formalities
of this Court." He paused dramatically. He was only aiming a random
shot; he would make the most of it.

The Duke looked up perturbed, and said sharply: "What is that--what is
that, monsieur?"

"A form, monsieur le duc, a mere form. Monsieur"--he bowed towards
Philip politely--"monsieur is not al