mantelpiece, and he, passing to and fro between me and the light,
continued his tale.

'A word about this proof,' he said. 'It came into the King of Navarre's
hands before its full value was known to us, for that only accrued to
it on M. de Guise's death. A month ago it--this piece of evidence I
mean--was at Chize. A fortnight or so ago it was here in Blois. It
is now, 'M. de Marsac,' he continued, facing me suddenly as he came
opposite me, 'in my house at Rosny.'

I started. 'You mean Mademoiselle de la Vire?' I cried.

'I mean Mademoiselle de la Vire!' he answered, 'who, some month or two
ago, overheard M. de Turenne's plans, and contrived to communicate
with the King of Navarre. Before the latter could arrange a private
interview, however, M. de Turenne got wind of her dangerous knowledge,
and swept her off to Chize. The rest you know, M. de Marsac, if any man
knows it.'

'But what will you do?' I asked. 'She is at Rosny.'

'Maignan, whom I trust implicitly, as far as his lights go, will start
to fetch her to-morrow. At the same hour I start southwards. You, M.
de Marsac, will remain here as my agent, to watch over my interests,
to receive Mademoiselle on her arrival, to secure for her a secret
interview with the king, to guard her while she remains here. Do you
understand?'

Did I understand? I could not find words in which to thank him. My
remorse and gratitude, my sense of the wrong I had done him, and of the
honour he was doing me, were such that I stood mute before him as I had
stood before the king. 'You accept, then?' he said, smiling. 'You do not
deem the adventure beneath you, my friend?'

'I deserve your confidence so little, sir,' I answered, stricken to the
ground, 'that I beg you to speak, while I listen. By attending exactly
to your instructions I may prove worthy of the trust reposed in me. And
only so.'

He embraced me again and again, with a kindness which moved me almost
to tears. 'You are a man after my own heart,' he said, 'and if God wills
I will make your fortune. Now listen, my friend. To-morrow at Court, as
a stranger and a man introduced by Rambouillet, you will be the cynosure
of all eyes. Bear yourself bravely. Pay court to the women, but attach
yourself to no one in particular. Keep aloof from Retz and the Spanish
faction, but beware especially of Bruhl. He alone will have your secret,
and may suspect your design. Mademoiselle should be here in a week;
while she is with you, an