whispered to Peyrolles: "He must
not leave this place alive."

And Peyrolles answered, confidently: "He shall not. Every gate is guarded
by my spies."

The king rose gravely and addressed the assembly. "Let us disperse,
friends. What we have seen and heard leaves us in little mood for
merrymaking." Then he gave his hand to the now weeping princess, and,
followed by his immediate escort, quitted the tent. It was soon deserted;
it was soon empty. The king departed in the direction of his palace. News
that the ball was ended spread rapidly, and in a short while the gardens
that had been so thronged and brilliant became deserted and desolate. The
departing guests found that every exit was guarded by soldiers, and that
their faces were carefully scanned before they were suffered to leave the
precincts of the Palais Royal.

Gonzague remained alone in the solitude by the Fountain of Diana, waiting
for Peyrolles, who presently joined him.

"Well?" Gonzague asked, anxiously.

Peyrolles looked disappointed. "He has not left by any of the gates. He
must be hiding in the gardens."

Gonzague commanded, sharply: "Bid your men seek till they find, and kill
when they find."

Peyrolles bowed. "Yes, your excellency," he said, and disappeared down
one of the silent alleys. As he departed, the hunchback emerged from the
shadow of a tree and approached Gonzague noiselessly. Gonzague started a
little as he suddenly became aware of the hunchback's presence.

The hunchback bowed. "Is your highness content with the night's work?"

"So far, yes," Gonzague replied. "We have got the girl and got the papers
safe in my palace."

"Ah! And Lagardere?" the hunchback asked.

Gonzague answered: "Peyrolles is looking for him, with six of the best
swords in Paris."

AEsop spoke, contemptuously: "Peyrolles is a bungler. Leave it to me. I
will find Lagardere for you and deal with him as he deserves before an
hour has passed."

Gonzague caught at his words eagerly. "You promise?"

AEsop answered, proudly: "On the word of a hunchback. Before two o'clock I
will bring you the news you wish for."

Gonzague gave a cry of triumph. "Then ask and have your own reward." Then
he turned and hurriedly left the gardens, his breast swelled with
exultation. When he was out of sight, the hunchback whistled softly, and
Cocardasse and Passepoil came out of the shadow of the trees. The lights
were now rapidly dying out, and the gardens lay in darkness checker