y one house in France that bears such
features, and the greatest of them all is now King, and owes his being
to the man who stood before me.

As the lights fell on us I noticed a quick glance pass between the two,
and Le Brusquet's hand moved beneath his cloak. It was as if suspicion
were gone and he had resheathed his poniard. I smiled to myself; but
Pierrebon now entered with a ewer and the things I required. He placed
these on the table, and at a look from me, which he understood,
vanished again.

I set myself at once to dress the wound, which was, after all, but a
slight affair, though it had bled freely. I said so as I finished,
adding that if it had been a trifle deeper the business would have been
serious; but, as it was, a couple of days would mend matters entirely,
except for a patch.

"Not Frenel himself could have tended me better," said the wounded man.
"Monsieur, I am deeply obliged to you."

And Pierrebon entering at this time with some wine I begged them to do
me the honour to drink a cup.

This they willingly assented to, and filling three cups from the flagon
I raised mine on high.

"Messieurs, a toast for all good Christians! Down with the crescent!"

They understood and drank--Le Brusquet with a searching look in his
eyes and a smile on his lips, and his companion with a reckless laugh.

And now they rose. "Monsieur," said the wounded man, "will you add to
your kindness by telling us to whom we are indebted? You are a
soldier--I can see that--and I can keep that sword of yours from
rusting if you will."

So he had not recognised me! Well, ten years make a difference! And
yet, if once, he had seen me a hundred times in the days when his
valiant brother Enghien lived. I began to feel sure that if he did not
know me I was safe indeed; but I had no mind to change my present peace
for any other life, and so made answer:

"Monseigneur, it were idle for me to say that I do not know you. Rest
assured that were I so minded I could follow no braver or more generous
prince than Antony of Vendome, but my sword is hung to the wall. My
name is Broussel. I am bourgeois, as you see, and having a small
estate of fifty ecus have all that suffices for the simple needs of a
citizen such as I. Monseigneur, the little service I rendered is
small; let it be forgotten. Nevertheless, I thank you for the kind
offer you have made."

I delivered this speech with a respectful air, but yet in a tone th