rdere, whose bearing, in spite of the king's
prejudices as a friend of Gonzague, impressed him as that of an honest
man. "Had you not better send for this lady?" he questioned.

On Lagardere's face now some anxiety was depicted, and he answered,
anxiously: "She will be here; she must be here. Ah!"

In the excitement consequent upon the extraordinary scene that was
passing in the king's presence, the attention of all the guests was
riveted upon their host and upon the amazing altercation between Louis of
Gonzague and the unknown adventurer, and the entrance of the tent was
left unheeded and unguarded. At this moment the curtains were parted,
and the figure of Cocardasse appeared for a moment in the opening. As
Lagardere saw him, Cocardasse lifted his glove in the air and let it fall
to the ground. Then, in a moment, he had vanished before any one had
noticed the episode.

Lagardere gave a sharp cry of pain as he turned to the princess. "Madame,
your child is not here; your child must be in danger!" he cried.

The princess clasped her hands as she cried: "My child! My child!"

Gonzague pointed mockingly at Lagardere. "The impostor is already
exposed!" he cried, exultingly.

Lagardere turned towards him, fiercely. "Liar! assassin!" he cried, and
advanced towards Gonzague, but was stopped by Bonnivet.

The king looked at him sternly. "Sir, you have made charges you could not
prove, promises you could not keep. You shall answer for this before your
judges."

Bonnivet made as if to arrest Lagardere, but Lagardere held up his hand.
"Stop!" he cried; "let no man dare to touch me. I have here your
majesty's safe-conduct, signed and sealed--'free to come, free to
go'--that was your promise, sire."

Gonzague protested. "A promise won by a trick does not count."

The king shook his head. "I have given my word. The man has forty-eight
hours to cross the frontier."

Lagardere bowed to the king. "I thank you, sire. You are a true and
honorable gentleman. But, sire, I give you back your word." As he spoke
he tore the safe-conduct in two and flung it at his feet. "I ask but
four-and-twenty hours to unmask the villain who now triumphs over truth
and justice, and to give back a daughter to her mother. Nevers shall be
avenged! Make way for me!"

As he spoke he turned upon his heel and passed rapidly from the king's
presence, the amazed and bewildered guests giving ground before him as he
passed. Instantly Gonzague turned and