at with one thing and another there is steel in the air at
present, and a stout heart and a good sword such as you are may make an
estate of fifty ecus five hundred or more. Come, think of it!"

I felt my blood warm within me in spite of my fancied devotion to my
contented life; but I thought of that affair of the duel, of the
judgment of the Chambre Ardente, and above all, of Simon and the cards
he held against me. Besides, I knew Vendome, and so I refused once
more.

"Well, well," he said, "as you will; but never say Antony of Vendome
was ungrateful."

We had by this time reached the point where the road opened out upon
the river face, and halted together in the moonlight.

A little distance from us lay the Seine, shining in scales of hammered
brass. The convicts were still on the Gloriette. Poor wretches! They
slaved there day and night, and lights were moving to and fro amongst
them as the guards watched them at their toil. They were singing a
weird refrain--a chorus--ever and again interrupted by yells and curses
as the lash of the task-master fell on some victim of his hatred or
sluggard at work.

"Here we part, Monseigneur!" I said. "The lieutenant of the Chatelet
will give you guards to escort you farther."

I bowed to both, and would have gone--for I thought it well not to be
mixed up further in this matter--but the Duke stayed me. He had taken
off his glove, and was fumbling with a ring on his finger. This he
drew off and thrust into my hand.

"Keep this, monsieur. Remember, if ever you want a friend you have but
to send it to me. Farewell!"

"_Au revoir_!" cried Le Brusquet, who had up to now preserved silence.
"Remember, Le Brusquet is also your debtor doubly--once for a life and
once for a sword--and forget not my address is the sign of the
Crescent."

With this mocking allusion to the Louvre and to Diane de Poitiers'
influence there, he followed on the heels of Vendome, leaving me with
the ring in my hand.

I watched them until they were lost in the shivering haze. They never
sought the Gloriette, but kept on the right, making directly for the
Louvre.

Then I looked at the ring. It was light enough for me to see that it
was a plain gold signet in the shape of a shield, with the arms of
Bearn--two cows on a field _Or_--cut thereon.

"Perhaps," I said to myself, "I shall need it some day." With this I
slipped it on my finger, and went back.

CHAPTER III

MY PYRAMID OF