called upon, I was not in the clearest mood to receive them. Nor was my
bearing such as I could have wished it to be.

M. de Rosny tells me that you desire a commission at Court, sir,' the
king said quickly.

'I, sire?' I stammered, scarcely able to believe my ears. I was so
completely taken aback that I could say no more, and I stopped there
with my mouth open.

'There are few things I can deny M. de Rosny,' Henry continued, speaking
very rapidly, 'and I am told that you are a gentleman of birth and
ability. Out of kindness to him, therefore, I grant you a commission to
raise twenty men for my service. Rambouillet,' he continued, raising
his voice slightly, 'you will introduce this gentleman to me publicly
to-morrow, that; I may carry into effect my intention on his behalf. You
may go now, sir. No thanks. And M. de Rosny,' he added, turning to my
companion and speaking with energy, 'have a care for my sake that you
are not recognised as you go. Rambouillet must contrive something to
enable you to leave without peril. I should be desolated if anything
happened to you, my friend, for I could not protect you. I give you my
word if Mendoza or Retz found you in Blois I could not save you from
them unless you recanted.'

'I will not trouble either your Majesty or my conscience,' M. de Rosny
replied, bowing low, 'if my wits can help me.'

'Well, the saints keep you,' the king answered piously, going towards
the door by which he had entered; 'for your master and I have both need
of you. Rambouillet, take care of him as you love me. And come early in
the morning to my closet and tell me how it has fared with him.'

We all stood bowing while he withdrew, and only turned to retire when
the door closed behind him. Burning with indignation and chagrin as
I was at finding myself disposed of in the way I have described, and
pitchforked, whether I would or no, into a service I neither fancied
nor desired, I still managed for the present to restrain myself; and,
permitting my companions to precede me, followed in silence, listening
sullenly to their jubilations. The marquis seemed scarcely less pleased
than M. de Rosny; and as the latter evinced a strong desire to lessen
any jealousy the former might feel, and a generous inclination to
attribute to him a full share of the credit gained, I remained the
only person dissatisfied with the evening's events. We retired from the
chateau with the same precautions which had marked our ent