humming the 118th
Psalm a little above his breath--

La voici l'heureuse journee
Que Dieu a faite a plein desir;
Par nous soit joie demenee,
Et prenons en elle plaisir.

He continued, indeed, to walk up and down the floor so long, and with so
joyful a countenance and demeanour, that I ventured, at last to remind
him of my presence, which he had clearly forgotten. 'Ha! to be sure,'
he said, stopping short and looking at me with the utmost good-humour.
'What time is it? Seven. Then until nine o'clock, my friend, I crave
your indulgence. In fine, until that time I must keep counsel. Come,
I am hungry still. Let us sit down, and this time I hope we may not be
interrupted. Simon, set us on a fresh bottle. Ha! ha! VIVENT LE ROI ET
LE ROI DE NAVARRE!' And again he fell to humming the same psalm--

O Dieu eternel, je te prie,
Je te prie, ton roi maintiens:
O Dieu, je te prie et reprie,
Sauve ton roi et l'entretiens!

doing so with a light in his eyes and a joyous emphasis, which impressed
me the more in a man ordinarily so calm and self-contained. I saw that
something had occurred to gratify him beyond measure, and, believing his
statement that this was not the good news from La Ganache only, I waited
with the utmost interest and anxiety for the hour of nine, which had
no sooner struck than our former visitor appeared with the same air of
mystery and disguise which had attended him before.

M. de Rosny, who had risen on hearing his step and had taken up his
cloak, paused with it half on and half off, to cry anxiously, 'All is
well, is it not?'

'Perfectly,' the stranger replied, with a nod.

'And my friend?'

Yes, on condition that you answer for his discretion and fidelity.' And
the stranger glanced involuntarily at me who stood uncertain whether to
hold my ground or retire.

'Good,' M. de Rosny cried. Then he turned to me with a mingled air
of dignity and kindness, and continued: 'This is the gentleman. M. de
Marsac, I am honoured with permission to present you to the Marquis de
Rambouillet, whose interest and protection I beg you to deserve, for he
is a true Frenchman and a patriot whom I respect.'

M. de Rambouillet saluted me politely. 'Of a Brittany family, I think?'
he said.

I assented; and he replied with something complimentary. But afterwards
he continued to look at me in silence with a keenness and curiosity I
did not understand. At last, when M. de Rosny's impatience had reached
a