ere are many ways of coming to know a thing," said I. "One is by
being told; another, madame, is by finding out. Certainly it was amazing
how M. de Perrencourt dealt with his Grace; ay, and with my Lord
Carford, who shrank out of his path as though he had been--a King." I
let my tones give the last word full effect.

"Simon," she whispered in eagerness mingled with alarm, "Simon, what are
you saying? Silence for your life!"

"My life, madame, is rooted too deep for a syllable to tear it up. I
said only 'as though he had been a king.' Tell me why M. Colbert wears
the King's Star. Was it because somebody saw a gentleman wearing the
King's Star embrace and kiss M. de Perrencourt the night that he
arrived?"

"It was you?"

"It was I, madame. Tell me on whose account three messengers went to
London, carrying the words '_Il vient_.'"

She was hanging to my arm now, full of eagerness.

"And tell me now what M. de Perrencourt said to you. A plague on him, he
spoke so low that I couldn't hear!"

A blush swept over her face; her eyes, losing the fire of excitement,
dropped in confusion to the ground.

"I can't tell you," she murmured.

"Yet I know," said I. "And if you'll trust me, madame----"

"Ah, Simon, you know I trust you."

"Yet you were angry with me."

"Not angry--I had no right--I mean I had no cause to be angry. I--I was
grieved."

"You need be grieved no longer, madame."

"Poor Simon!" said she very gently. I felt the lightest pressure on my
hand, the touch of two slim fingers, speaking of sympathy and
comradeship.

"By God, I'll bring you safe out of it," I cried.

"But how, how? Simon, I fear that he has----"

"The Duke?"

"No, the--the other--M. de Perrencourt; he has set his heart on--on what
he told me."

"A man may set his heart on a thing and yet not win it," said I grimly.

"Yes, a man--yes, Simon, I know; a man may----"

"Ay, and even a----"

"Hush, hush! If you were overheard--your life wouldn't be safe if you
were overheard."

"What do I care?"

"But I care!" she cried, and added very hastily, "I'm selfish. I care,
because I want your help."

"You shall have it. Against the Duke of Monmouth, and against the----"

"Ah, be careful!"

I would not be careful. My blood was up. My voice was loud and bold as I
gave to M. de Perrencourt the name that was his, the name by which the
frightened lord and the cowed Duke knew him, the name that gave him
entrance to those inmost secret