"Will you return with me?"

"Impossible."

"Are they still thinking of killing you?"

"I think not. I am of too little importance for them to have any plot on
hand about me. For an instant they wanted to kill me, but that was all.
The princes were on a frolic that night."

"What are you going to do, then?"

"Nothing; wander about or take a walk."

"Well, I will walk, too, and wander with you. That will be charming.
Then, if you are attacked, there will be two of us, and we will give
them no end of trouble. Let him come, your duke! I will pin him to the
wall like a butterfly!"

"But, at least, say that you are going to leave his service!"

"Yes, I am."

"In that case, tell him so."

"Well, that seems only right. I will do so. I will write to him."

"Write to him! That would be discourteous, Coconnas, to a prince of the
blood."

"Yes, of the blood! of the blood of my friend. Take care," cried
Coconnas, rolling his large, tragic eyes, "lest I trifle with points of
etiquette!"

"Probably," said La Mole to himself, "in a few days he will need neither
the prince nor any one else, for if he wants to come with us, we will
take him."

Thereupon Coconnas took the pen without further opposition from his
friend and hastily composed the following specimen of eloquence:

"_Monseigneur: There can be no doubt but that your highness, versed
as you are in the writings of all authors of antiquity, must know
the touching story of Orestes and Pylades, who were two heroes
celebrated for their misfortunes and their friendship. My friend La
Mole is no less unfortunate than was Orestes, while I am no less
tender than Pylades. At present he has affairs of importance which
demand my aid. It is therefore impossible for me to leave him. So
with the consent of your highness I will take a short vacation,
determined as I am to attach myself to my friend's fortune,
whithersoever it may lead me. It is with the deepest grief that I
tear myself away from the service of your highness, but for this I
trust I may obtain your pardon. I venture to subscribe myself with
respect, my lord,_

"_Your highness's very humble and very obedient servant_,

"_ANNIBAL, COMTE DE COCONNAS_,

"_The inseparable friend of Monsieur de la Mole._"

This masterpiece finished, Coconnas read it aloud to La Mole, who merely
shrugged his shoulde