t and traversed alone and unconducted those large,
dark and deserted apartments, brushing away tears which, blase as he
was by fifty years spent as a courtier, he could not withhold at the
spectacle of royal distress so dignified, yet so intense.

40. Uncle and Nephew.

The horse and servant belonging to De Winter were waiting for him at the
door; he proceeded toward his abode very thoughtfully, looking behind
him from time to him to contemplate the dark and silent frontage of the
Louvre. It was then that he saw a horseman, as it were, detach himself
from the wall and follow him at a little distance. In leaving the Palais
Royal he remembered to have observed a similar shadow.

"Tony," he said, motioning to his groom to approach.

"Here I am, my lord."

"Did you remark that man who is following us?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Who is he?"

"I do not know, only he has followed your grace from the Palais Royal,
stopped at the Louvre to wait for you, and now leaves the Louvre with
you."

"Some spy of the cardinal," said De Winter to him, aside. "Let us
pretend not to notice that he is watching us."

And spurring on he plunged into the labyrinth of streets which led to
his hotel, situated near the Marais, for having for so long a time lived
near the Place Royale, Lord de Winter naturally returned to lodge near
his ancient dwelling.

The unknown spurred his horse to a gallop.

De Winter dismounted at his hotel and went up into his apartment,
intending to watch the spy; but as he was about to place his gloves and
hat on a table, he saw reflected in a glass opposite to him a figure
which stood on the threshold of the room. He turned around and Mordaunt
stood before him.

There was a moment of frozen silence between these two.

"Sir," said De Winter, "I thought I had already made you aware that I am
weary of this persecution; withdraw, then, or I shall call and have you
turned out as you were in London. I am not your uncle, I know you not."

"My uncle," replied Mordaunt, with his harsh and bantering tone, "you
are mistaken; you will not have me turned out this time as you did in
London--you dare not. As for denying that I am your nephew, you will
think twice about it, now that I have learned some things of which I was
ignorant a year ago."

"And how does it concern me what you have learned?" said De Winter.

"Oh, it concerns you very closely, my uncle, I am sure, and you will
soon be of my opinion," added