an
heir, unwilling that his estate should swell the fortunes of the family
that in life had disowned him. Into his ear some kindly angel had
whispered my name, and the memory that I shared with him the frowns of
our house, and that my plight must be passing pitiful, had set up a bond
of sympathy between us, which had led him to will his lands to me. Of
Madame de Chevreuse--who clearly was the patron saint of those of her
first husband's nephews who chanced to tread ungodly ways--my cousin
Marion had besought that she should see to the fulfilment of his last
wishes.

My brain reeled beneath the first shock of that unlooked-for news.
Already I saw myself transformed from a needy adventurer into a
gentleman of fortune, and methought my road to Yvonne lay open, all
obstacles removed. But swiftly there followed the thought of my own
position, and truly it seemed that a cruel irony lay in the manner
wherein things had fallen out, since did I declare myself to be alive
and claim the Provence estates, the Cardinal's claws would be quick to
seize me.

Thus much I told Madame de Chevreuse, but her answer cheered me, and
said much for my late cousin's prudence.

"Nay," she cried. "Marion was ever shrewd. Knowing that men who live by
the sword, as you have lived, are often wont to die by the sword,--and
that suddenly at times,--he has made provision that in the event of
your being dead his estates shall come to me, who have been the most
indulgent of his relatives. This, my dear Gaston, has already taken
place, for we believed you dead; and therein fortune has been kind to
you, for now, while receiving the revenues of your lands--which the
world will look upon as mine--I shall contrive that they reach you
wherever you may be, until such a time as you may elect to come to life
again."

Now but for the respect in which I held her, I could have taken the
pretty Duchesse in my arms and kissed her.

Restraining myself, however, I contented myself by kissing her hand, and
told her of the journey I was going, then craved another boon of her.
No matter what the issue of that journey, and whether I went alone or
accompanied, I was determined to quit France and repair to Spain. There
I would abide until the Parliament, the Court, or the knife of some
chance assassin, or even Nature herself should strip Mazarin of his
power.

Now, at the Court of Spain it was well known that my aunt's influence
was vast, and so, the boon I craved wa