thout success. Some think he may have reached
the streets, and been there killed; and his body, like so many
others, thrown into the Seine. I trust that this is not the case,
but I have no grounds for bidding you hope."

"At any rate, you have given me cause to hope, sir, and I thank you
heartily. It is something to know that he is not certainly dead.

"Can you tell me on which side of the palace was his chamber? I saw
him there frequently, but did not, on any occasion, go with him to
his room."

"It was on the side facing the river. It was near that of the King
of Navarre."

"Thank you, count. It is but a small clue with which to commence my
search, but it is at least something. You say that the palace
itself has been searched?"

"Yes. On the following morning it was thoroughly searched for
fugitives in hiding; but for all that he may be concealed there, by
some servant whose goodwill he had gained.

"Is there anything else that I can tell you? I may say that I have,
personally, no influence whatever at court. I have never failed to
express myself strongly, in reference to the policy of persecution;
and I am only here, now, in obedience to the royal orders to
present myself at court."

"There is nothing else, count. I thank you most sincerely, for
having thus respected my disguise, and for the news you have given
me."

Philip returned to the Louvre and joined Pierre, who was
impatiently waiting.

"I followed you for some distance, sir; but when I saw you address
the count, and then follow quietly behind him, I saw you were
right, and that he was to be trusted; and so returned to await your
coming. Have you obtained any sure news from him?"

Philip repeated his conversation with the count.

"I will wager he is hidden somewhere in the palace," Pierre said.
"Badly wounded as he must have been, he could not have hoped to
make his escape through the streets, knowing no one who would have
dared to give him refuge. It is far more likely that some of the
palace servants came upon him, just as he was recovering, and hid
him away. He was always bright and pleasant, fond of a jest, and it
may well be that some woman or other took pity on him. The question
is, how are we to find out who she is?"

"It is as likely to be a man as a woman, Pierre."

"No," Pierre said positively. "Women are wonderfully tender
hearted, and are not so afraid of consequences as men are. A man
might feel some pity, at seeing a gentleman