nce
de Gonzague.

Peyrolles introduced him. "This is the man, monseigneur."

Gonzague looked fixedly at the man. He could see little of his face, for
the head was thrust forward from the stooping, misshapen shoulders, and
his long, dark hair hung about his cheeks and shaded his countenance. The
face seemed pale and intelligent. It was naturally quite unfamiliar to
Gonzague, who knew nothing of AEsop except as one of the men who had
played a sinister part in the murder at Caylus.

Gonzague addressed him. "You know much, they tell me?"

The man bowed again, and spoke, slowly: "I know that Lagardere is in
Paris, and with the child of Nevers."

"Do you know where he is?" Gonzague questioned.

The man answered, with laconic confidence: "I will find out."

"How?" asked Gonzague.

The hunchback laughed dryly. "That is my secret. Paris cannot hold any
mystery from me."

Gonzague questioned again: "Is it to your interest that Lagardere should
die?"

"Indeed, yes," the hunchback answered. "Has he not sworn to kill every
man who attacked Nevers that night? Has he not kept his word well? I am
the last that is left--I and Monsieur Peyrolles, for, of course, I except
your Excellence. I promise you I will find him, but I shall need help."

"Help?" Gonzague echoed.

The hunchback nodded. "He is a dangerous fellow, this Lagardere, as six
of us have found to our cost. Are there not two of our number newly in
your highness's service?"

"Cocardasse and Passepoil," Peyrolles explained.

The hunchback rubbed his hands. "The very men. Will your highness place
them under my orders?"

"By all means," Gonzague answered, and, turning to Peyrolles, he said:
"They are in the antechamber; bring them in."

Peyrolles turned to obey, when the hunchback delayed him with a gesture.
"Your pardon, highness," he said; "but I think there is another service I
can render you to-day."

"Another service?" Gonzague repeated, looking at the hunchback with some
surprise.

The hunchback explained: "Your highness, as I understand, has summoned
for this afternoon a small family council, ostensibly for the purpose of
considering the position of affairs between madame the princess and
yourself."

The hunchback paused. Gonzague nodded, but said nothing, and the
hunchback resumed: "Your real purpose, however, as I understand, is to
present to that council the young lady, the daughter of Nevers, whom I
have been fortunate enough to discover in Spa